London, Aug 22 (PTI) Tributes have been pouring in from across Britain for the late Lord Swraj Paul, a prominent industrialist known for establishing the Caparo Group of Industries and his significant philanthropic contributions. He is remembered as a key advocate of stronger India-UK relations.
Paul passed away at the age of 94 in London this Thursday. In 1996, he was appointed a Labour life peer, becoming Baron Paul of Marylebone. Later, he made history as the first person of Indian descent to serve as Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords in 2008.
He co-led the India-UK Round Table from 2000 to 2005 and was honored with the Padma Bhushan by the Indian government in 1983.
“He was a bridge between the UK and India and a great inspiration to me,” said Lord Karan Bilimoria, the founder of Cobra Beer. He reflected on their time at the Roundtable where Paul co-chaired alongside Hamid Ansari, who went on to become India’s vice-president. According to Bilimoria, “It was a great initiative, bringing the UK and India together on all fronts, academic, business, in politics and security, in every area.”
Despite health challenges, Lord Paul was committed to his duties. “He was very ill for a while, and then once he bounced back, he would continue to attend the House of Lords every single day in his wheelchair, literally every day he would be there,” Bilimoria shared.
In 2009, Lord Paul was inducted into the esteemed Privy Council, a vital advisory body to the British monarch, and earned the title The Rt Hon Lord Paul of Marylebone PC.
“Lord Paul was a friend to all and an eminent figure within the British Indian community,” said Baroness Sandy Verma, a fellow peer in the House of Lords. She highlighted his well-documented contributions in business and philanthropy, noting a personal loss as a friend and guide to many.
Lord Paul is credited with rescuing the London Zoo from possible closure through his philanthropic efforts. He also supported numerous health and education initiatives, including his tenure as Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton for over 26 years. Professor Ebrahim Adia, Vice-Chancellor of the University, remarked on Paul’s profound impact, “always supporting and encouraging us to be ambitious and value-driven.”
“Lord Paul was deeply committed to the university and a passionate supporter of our social mobility objectives and our aim of creating opportunity for all. He was a person of great humility, generosity and integrity, and he will be dearly missed,” he said.
The University of Wolverhampton underscored Lord Paul’s receipt of 15 honorary degrees from global academic institutions, recognizing his contributions to business, the economy, and his charitable work.
“Lord Paul was an inspirational and generous chancellor and a wonderful human being,” said Angela Spence, Chair of the University of Wolverhampton Board of Governors. She praised his passion for education and acknowledged his enduring legacy with the university.
To honor his memory, the university has established books of condolence at its Wolverhampton and Walsall campuses for students and academics to pay their respects.
Born in Jalandhar in 1931, Paul received his education at Punjab University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA. He moved to the UK in 1966 and founded Caparo Group two years later, an industrial company operating in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Lord Paul, who is survived by his sons Akash and Ambar and daughter Anjli, has faced personal losses in recent years, mourning the deaths of his son Angad and wife Aruna.
The death of his daughter Ambika at four from cancer in 1966 marked a turning point in his life, prompting him to start anew in England while maintaining strong ties with India. “He was a legend who shaped the destiny of so many Indians in the United Kingdom,” remarked Lord Rami Ranger, founder of Sun Mark Ltd.
“He was larger than life and touched the lives of many who came in contact with him. He was also closely connected to the Indian government, making frequent trips to his birthplace.”
The Indian High Commission in London reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tribute, highlighting Lord Paul's “contributions to industry, philanthropy, and public service in the UK, and his unwavering support for closer ties with India.”
“The British Indian leader left an indelible mark with his lifelong efforts to foster stronger India-UK ties,” the statement concluded.
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