Lord Swraj Paul, the legendary NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist, passed away in London at the age of 94. Born in Jalandhar in 1931, Paul’s journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming a member of the British House of Lords is a story of resilience, ambition, and compassion.
Educated at Punjab University and later at MIT in the US, he returned briefly to India before moving to the UK in 1966 to seek treatment for his daughter Ambika, who tragically passed away at age 4. In her memory, he established the Ambika Paul Foundation, supporting child welfare initiatives worldwide.
In 1968, he founded the Caparo Group in London, a steel and engineering giant now valued at over $1 billion. Despite business success, Lord Paul’s life was marked by personal losses, including his daughter Ambika, son Angad, and wife Aruna. These tragedies strengthened his resolve for philanthropic work, leading to the renaming of his charity as the Aruna and Ambika Paul Foundation.
He was knighted in 1978, became Lord Paul of Marylebone, and was inducted into the House of Lords. The Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 1983. He also led the Indo-British Association, promoting cross-cultural ties.
Ranked 81st on the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated wealth of £2 billion, Lord Paul continued to serve in the House of Lords until recently. His death marks the end of an era for the Indian diaspora and global industry.
