How Ram V Sutar dreamt big and went on to create the world's largest statue

The Statue of Unity, which reportedly cost the government close to Rs 30 billion, was a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Before signing his name, Ram V Sutar, seated inside his studio, slowly runs his index finger over a letter seeking an audience with the prime minister. It’s obvious that attention to detail is a significant characteristic of the master sculptor who designed the recently unveiled Statue of Unity — now famously, the world’s tallest statue with a height of almost 600 feet.

The 93-year-old has to be one of the most prolific statue-makers of his time. And for someone clearly detail-oriented, his career also displays a fascinating engagement with scale. Over the past four decades, he has churned out 50 monumental