Lord Swraj Paul, the founder of the UK-based Caparo Group of Industries and a prominent NRI industrialist, passed away in London at the age of 94. He had been unwell and hospitalised recently, where he died surrounded by his family.
Born in Jalandhar, Lord Paul moved to the UK in the 1960s to seek treatment for his daughter Ambika, who sadly passed away at the age of four. In her memory, he founded the Ambika Paul Foundation, which has donated millions globally towards education and healthcare for children and young people. One of its notable beneficiaries is the Ambika Paul Children’s Zoo at London Zoo, a place Ambika loved dearly.
Over the years, Lord Paul also honoured his late son Angad Paul (died in 2015) and his wife Aruna Paul (passed away in 2022) through philanthropic initiatives. In 2023, he inaugurated the Lady Aruna Swraj Paul Hall at the Indian Gymkhana Club in London as a tribute to his wife.
A successful businessman, Lord Paul was a regular on the Sunday Times Rich List, ranked 81st in 2024 with a fortune of £2 billion, mainly from Caparo Group—a steel and engineering multinational headquartered in London, with operations in the UK, North America, India, and the Middle East. His son Akash Paul now leads Caparo India and plays a key role in the wider group.
As Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton for over 26 years, Lord Paul made significant contributions to education. Notably, he personally awarded an honorary doctorate to his son Akash, who has worked alongside him at Caparo since 1982 and became its CEO in 1992.
Despite his age and frailty, Lord Paul remained an active voice in the House of Lords until his final days. His colleague Lord Rami Ranger paid tribute, saying: “We pray for the departed soul. May the noble Lord rest in peace.”
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