Overview
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the award at Ram Sutar’s Noida residence on November 14 with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar in attendance, and Anil Sutar accepted on his father’s behalf.
- Officials emphasized the honour pertains to 2024 after a unanimous committee decision, with Fadnavis noting the late presentation as the year’s end approaches.
- At 100, Sutar is celebrated for a seven-decade career that includes the Statue of Unity and widely recognized sculptures of Mahatma Gandhi.
- Leaders pointed to his ongoing guidance on Mumbai’s Dr B. R. Ambedkar statue at Indu Mill and a body of work displayed across 15 countries.
- Eknath Shinde highlighted 16 of Sutar’s works installed in Parliament and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Sindhudurg as enduring achievements.