Lord Swraj Paul, well-known NRI industrialist, philanthropist and member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, passed away in London on Thursday at the age of 94. He had recently been admitted to hospital after falling ill, and his family confirmed that he died there.

Where did his journey begin?

Born on 18 February 1931 in Jalandhar, Lord Paul moved to the UK in the 1960s. The relocation was mainly for the treatment of his daughter Ambika, who was suffering from cancer. Sadly, Ambika passed away at the age of four.

In her memory, he set up the Ambika Paul Foundation, a charitable trust that focuses on the welfare of children and young people, with education and health initiatives at its heart.

Lord Paul’s life was marked by personal tragedies. He lost his son Angad in 2015 and his wife Aruna in 2022. After these difficult times, he went on to establish further charitable initiatives in their names.

In February 2023, during the inauguration of the Lady Aruna Swraj Paul Hall at the historic Indian Gymkhana Club in London, he expressed that the hall was a tribute to his wife. He explained that they had shared 65 years of marriage without ever having an argument and that he missed her deeply.

What was Caparo and his business legacy?

Lord Paul was the founder of the multinational Caparo Group, a steel and engineering business headquartered in London. The group operates globally with more than 40 sites, including in the UK, North America, India and the Middle East. His son, Akash Paul, now serves as Chairman of Caparo India and Director of the Caparo Group.

This year, Lord Paul was ranked 81st in the Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated wealth of £2 billion, mostly linked to the growth of Caparo.

How did he contribute to higher education?

Lord Paul served as Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton for over 26 years. In 2023, while acting in this role, he awarded his son Akash an honorary doctorate for contributions to business administration.

Akash, who attended the ceremony at the London Zoo with his wife Nisha and son Arush, noted that he may have been the only graduate to ever receive a degree from his father, though it was formally and independently approved by the University Board.

Lord Paul also reflected on Akash’s long involvement in the family business. He recalled that Akash had been working with him at Caparo since 1982 and became CEO in 1992.

During his leadership, Akash encouraged the expansion of Caparo across the UK, Europe, the USA and India, while also boosting the company’s profitability. He additionally held senior roles such as President of Caparo Automotive in Spain and membership of the Executive Board at Bull Moose Tube in the USA.

How is he remembered?

Lord Swraj Paul is remembered as a leading figure in both business and philanthropy. Through the Caparo Group, he built a global presence, and through his foundations, halls, and charity work he honoured the memory of his loved ones. His decades-long role at the University of Wolverhampton further reflected his deep commitment to education.

(With PTI inputs)