Sadashiv Sathe

Sadashiv Sathe
Born
Sadashiv Sathe

17 May 1926[1]
Died30 August 2021(2021-08-30) (aged 95)
NationalityIndian
Other namesBhau Sathe
EducationGovernment diploma in Modelling and Sculpture (1948)
OccupationSculptor
Known forBronze and other sculptures

Sadashiv Sathe or Bhau Sathe (17 May 1926 – 30 August 2021[2]) was an Indian sculptor.[3][4] His notable works include the 5-metre high statue of Mahatma Gandhi that is part of the main structure of the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial situated at Dandi, Navsari[5] and the 18-foot equestrian statue of Shivaji at the Gateway of India, Mumbai.[6]

Early life

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Sathe was first inspired to pursue sculpting as a career from his family's occupation of sculpting Lord Ganesha during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. He obtained a government diploma in Modelling and Sculpture at Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art in 1948.

Career

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“I believe art should flow. I have experimented with my art, and I hope generations to come continue experimenting. Unless we push limits, how will art grow?”[6]

He worked as a commercial artist with V. Shantaram.[7] He sculpted his first statue of Mahatma Gandhi opposite the Old Town Hall in Delhi in 1952.[6] In 1958, he was offered a scholarship by the Spanish government to study in Spain.[1] Atal Bihari Vajpayee introduced him to Yashwantrao Chavan, who called upon him to cast the 18-feet statue of the Shivaji, the founder of Maratha Kingdom, at the Gateway of India, Mumbai.[7] The statue was unveiled on 26 January 1961 on the occasion of India's Republic Day.[8][9] He did live sculpting for Lord Mountbatten.[6] He arranged exhibitions at Delhi, Mumbai, London, Moscow, New York, Brussels, The Hague. In 1973, he was invited to Buckingham Palace in London to make a head study sculpture of Prince Philip.[1]

Sathe initiated competitions, such as Pandit Nehru Memorial competition at Nehru Centre, Bombay, and the Shrimati Indira Gandhi National Memorial competition in New Delhi. He was a jury member of the Maharashtra government's art exhibitions and Bombay Art Society's exhibition. He served as an examiner for the Bombay University's art examination.[1]

He once declined to make a statue of Swami Vivekananda, as it was to be put in a temple. Sathe believed that the statue should be put on a rock to protect Vivekananda’s philosophy.[6]

On 24 December 1984, he live-sculpted a bust of Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the residence of Ved Prakash Goyal in Matunga, Mumbai.[7]

He wrote a book of stories related to sculpting - Aakar A Story Of Sculptures.[10]

Awards

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  • "Gold Medal" received from Indian President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, for making a 9-foot sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi in 1954.[1]
  • The Art Society of India Award, 2009
  • The Bombay Art Society Award, 2009

Notable works

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Statue of Gandhi at National Salt Satyagraha Memorial, Dandi, Gujarat

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Shilpalay | Photo Gallery". shilpalay.org. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  2. ^ Renowned sculptor Sadashiv Sathe passes away
  3. ^ "Marvellous creation". Mumbai Mirror. Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  4. ^ Srivastava, Kanchan (23 October 2014). "Ace Thane sculptor's Mahatma Gandhi statue ready for Dandi March". DNA India. India. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  5. ^ "National Salt Satyagraha Memorial | Homepage". www.dandimemorial.in. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Sadashiv Sathe: Making Gandhi statues since 1952". The Week. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  7. ^ a b c "Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Mumbai sculptor remembers a friend". The Indian Express. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  8. ^ Prasad, Rajendra (1984). Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Correspondence and Select Documents. Allied Publishers. p. 205. ISBN 978-81-7023-002-1. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  9. ^ University of Michigan (1965). The Illustrated weekly of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co., Ltd. p. 152. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  10. ^ "BookGanga - Creation | Publication | Distribution". www.bookganga.com. Retrieved 12 August 2019.