Lord Swraj Paul, renowned NRI industrialist and philanthropist, dies in London at 94
London: Eminent NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist Lord Swraj Paul, the 94-year-old founder of the UK-based Caparo Group, passed away in London on Thursday evening (August 21).
According to PTI, he had been ailing and was hospitalised recently, where he died surrounded by family members.
From Jalandhar to global industry
Born in 1931 in Jalandhar to industrialist Pyare Lal, Lord Paul studied mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) before briefly joining the family business in India.
His life changed course in 1966, when he moved to the UK seeking medical care for his daughter Ambika, who tragically died of leukaemia at the age of four.
To honour her memory, he established the Ambika Paul Foundation, which went on to fund education, health, and child welfare initiatives worldwide.
Caparo Group and business legacy
In 1968, Lord Paul founded Caparo Group, transforming it into a multinational with operations across the UK, India, North America and the Middle East.
This year, he was ranked 81st on the Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated wealth of £2 billion.
He remained a prominent voice in British industry and public affairs.
Public service and honours
Lord Paul became a member of the House of Lords in 1996 and served as Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton for over 26 years.
His contributions were widely recognised: he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978 and received India’s Padma Bhushan in 1983.
Personal losses and continued philanthropy
Despite enduring immense personal loss, including the death of his son Angad in 2015 and his wife Aruna in 2022, he continued his philanthropic commitments.
His foundation was renamed the Aruna and Ambika Paul Foundation to honour both.
Tributes pour in
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief on X, calling Lord Paul a “stalwart of industry, philanthropy and public service” whose contribution to India-UK ties “will always be remembered.”
Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Swaraj Paul Ji. His contributions to industry, philanthropy and public service in the UK, and his unwavering support for closer ties with India will always be remembered. I fondly recall our many interactions. Condolences to his family and… pic.twitter.com/6G7D4gDDD1
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 22, 2025
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described him as “a business tycoon, philanthropist and an icon of the global Indian diaspora with deep Kolkata connections.”
Deeply saddened by the demise of Swraj Paul ji. He was a business tycoon, a formidable industrialist, a philanthropist, and an icon of global Indian diaspora with deep Kolkata connections.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 22, 2025
I knew him well and received his affection. We had interacted on joint efforts to develop…
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