IN RAM V. SUTAR’S HANDS, STONE CAME ALIVE:LALIT GARG

IN RAM V. SUTAR’S HANDS, STONE CAME ALIVE:LALIT GARG

21-DEC-ENG 7

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------Ram V. Sutar's century-long life was not merely a count of years; it was a vibrant extension of centuries of dedication to Indian sculpture. His passing at the age of one hundred is like the silencing of a language spoken by stones, like the cessation of the emotions born between the hammer and chisel. He was among those rare artists in whose hands stone, metal, and bronze ceased to be mere materials; they became consciousness. Shapes were not merely sculpted; life was manifested. With his touch, the inanimate came alive, and the sculptures embodied the heartbeat of humanity. Ram V. Sutar was not just a great sculptor; he was a philosophy. His life was proof of the truth that art is not merely an expression of beauty, but an expansion of humanity. When he sculpted the statue of a great personality, he did not merely carve the lines of the face; he gave form to the struggle, resolve, compassion, and vision hidden within that personality. This is why his sculptures look back at the viewer, communicate even in silence, and transcend the boundaries of time to inspire generations.

The Statue of Unity stands today as the world's tallest statue, but its height should not be measured only in feet and meters. It embodies Sardar Patel's iron will, along with Ram V. Sutar's penance, patience, and insight. This statue is not merely a national symbol, but a global declaration of the power of Indian sculpture. Whether it is the Gandhi statue installed in the Parliament complex or the countless sculptures scattered across the country and abroad, everywhere his art has connected history to the present and made the present meaningful for the future. In his hands, stones spoke, but in his heart, humanity spoke. He knew that when creating a statue of a leader, saint, or thinker, mere physical resemblance is not enough. A resemblance of the soul is needed. Therefore, he first studied, understood, and internalized that personality. His artistic practice was an extraordinary confluence of study, meditation, and sensitivity. Perhaps this was the reason that his craftsmanship possessed both meticulous detail and a vibrancy that deeply touched the viewer.

Ram Sutar was one hundred and one years old and was battling age-related illnesses. He was born on February 19, 1925, in Gondur village of Dhule district in Maharashtra, into a poor family. His full name was Ram Vanji Sutar. He was a renowned sculptor of India. The statues of Mahatma Gandhi created by him have been installed in more than three hundred cities around the world. In recognition of his artistic and unique sculptural work, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri award in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan award in 2016. In October 2018, Sutar received the Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony for the year 2016. His father, Vanji Hansraj, was a carpenter by caste and profession. Ram Sutar married Pramila in 1952. They had one son, Anil Ram Sutar, born in 1957, who is an architect by profession but now also manages his father's studio and workshop in Noida.

Ram V. Sutar's life was synonymous with simplicity. Despite his great achievements, there was no arrogance in him. He was a devotee of his craft, not of publicity. His work spoke for itself; he conveyed everything even in his silence. He proved that true greatness does not need publicity. It is complete in itself, and time recognizes it. His art had deep roots in Indian tradition, but his vision was completely modern and global. He drew inspiration from the past, understood the needs of the present, and shaped forms for the future. This is why his sculptures are not confined to any one era. They seem relevant in every age. They possess the dignity of history, the consciousness of the present, and the hope for the future.

Inspired by his guru Ramakrishna Joshi, Ram Sutar went to Mumbai, where he enrolled in the J.J. School of Art. In 1953, he earned top honors in modeling at the same school, receiving the Mayo Gold Medal. While working as a modeler in the Archaeology Department of Aurangabad, Ram Sutar worked on the restoration of sculptures in the ancient caves of Ajanta and Ellora from 1954 to 1958. From 1958-1959, he also served as a technical assistant in the Audio-Visual Department of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. In 1959, he voluntarily left his government job and became a professional sculptor. During this time, he lived with his family in Noida. Ram Sutar created many sculptures, but some of his notable works include the 45-foot-tall Chambal Devi statue at the Gangasagar Dam, the 17-foot-tall statue of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the 21-foot-tall statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Amritsar, the 18-foot-tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Parliament House in New Delhi, the 9-foot-tall statue of Bhimrao Ambedkar in Jammu, the bust of the President of India, Shankar Dayal Sharma, and the Krishna-Arjuna chariot memorial bronze statue at Brahma Sarovar. The world's tallest statue, the 'Statue of Unity' of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, erected in Gujarat, is a testament to Ram Sutar's extraordinary artistic skill.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on his passing, saying that India has lost an artist who took the country's cultural identity to new heights on the world stage. Home Minister Amit Shah described him as a pillar of the Indian art tradition, saying that his sculptures will inspire future generations with the lives of the nation's great leaders. They will continue to connect us. Many politicians, artists, and thinkers have also expressed their condolences, acknowledging that the passing of Ram V. Sutar is not merely the loss of an individual, but the end of an era. But perhaps Ram V. Sutar himself believed more in his work than in such tributes. For him, the greatest honor was when someone stood before his sculpture, lost in silence for a few moments, beginning to think, beginning to feel. He made life as vibrant as his art. His personality was natural, simple, and endearing. Wherever he went, he became a quiet source of inspiration.

Ram Sutar's life was a school of craftsmanship and art, where he also taught that art is not just technique, but a spiritual discipline. Before wielding the chisel, one must refine the mind. One must purify one's vision. Perhaps this is why his creative energy remained undiminished until the last moments of his century-long journey. Age was merely a number for him; his zest for art never grew old. Today, as we bid him farewell, this farewell is not truly a parting. He will always be present in his sculptures, in his craftsmanship, in his sensibilities. Whenever someone bows their head before the statue of Gandhi in the Parliament complex, whenever someone feels the unity of the nation in the shadow of the Statue of Unity, Ram V. Sutar will be there. Like a heart beating within the stone, like a consciousness speaking in silence. His life is a testament to the fact that an ordinary man can become a great man through his dedication, resolve, and compassion. He gave life to stone, but even greater than that, he gave meaning to life. A humble tribute to this towering figure of Indian sculpture. His passing does not leave us with emptiness, but entrusts us with a great responsibility: that we do not let this lamp of art, culture, and humanity be extinguished.