It was the year 1966 when a man from Jalandhar set foot in Britain. The reason was not ambition, nor opportunity; it was far more personal. He had come seeking treatment for his young daughter, who was battling leukaemia. But fate dealt a cruel hand. Despite his efforts, he lost her. A father’s world was shattered, yet he chose not to be broken. He gathered his strength, carried his grief with dignity, and resolved to build anew. From that determination was born the Caparo Group of Industries, a business empire in the United Kingdom that continues to stand tall today. And yes, you may have already guessed his name: Lord Swraj Paul. The title “Lord” before his name marks not just respect, but the distinction of being a Life Peer in Britain’s Upper House, the House of Lords.
Lord Paul is no longer with us. On 21st August, he departed for his heavenly abode, but his legacy inspires us to strive for greatness. Beyond the creation of the Caparo Group of Industries, his life was defined by resilience, generosity, and service. Having endured the loss of his beloved daughter, and later his son Angad who tragically took his own life after the collapse of many Caparo Group companies Lord Paul understood the weight of grief. Yet he chose to transform sorrow into compassion, becoming a philanthropist whose work touched countless lives.
Through the Ambika Paul Foundation, established in memory of his daughter, he dedicated millions towards improving the well-being of children and young people worldwide, supporting health and education initiatives. The Foundation also established the Ambika Paul School of Technology in Jalandhar, India, giving back to the land where his journey began.
Lord Paul’s impact extended deeply into the field of education. He served as Pro-Chancellor of Thames Valley University in 1997, later becoming its Chancellor from 1998 to 2005. From 1998 onwards, he held the Chancellorship of the University of Wolverhampton, where in 2010 the student union centre was renamed the Ambika Paul Student Union Centre, following his generous donation. In 2015, he gave £1 million through his family foundation—the largest donation in the university’s history.
He also served as Chancellor of the University of Westminster between 2006 and 2014, where his Foundation contributed £300,000 to establish the Ambika P3 exhibition and event space. His commitment to education was global: he sat on MIT’s Mechanical Engineering Visiting Committee from 1998 to 2001, establishing the Ambika Paul Mezzanine and Study Space and the Swraj Paul Scholarship Fund for undergraduate and graduate students. He also served as a member of the President’s Cabinet at Chapman University in California, reflecting the worldwide reach of his vision.
Even in his nineties, Lord Paul’s determination remained unshaken. In June 2021, Caparo’s Bull Moose Tube announced the construction of a new mill in Sinton, Texas, an ambitious project with a capacity of 350,000 tonnes per annum and an investment of nearly $250 million.
His journey remains one of rare resilience. Despite immense personal and professional challenges, he rose above adversity, becoming the 38th richest person in Britain, as listed by the Sunday Times Rich List. His life reminds us that even when everything seems to go awry, tragedy can be turned into legacy, and the human spirit tested by fire can still rise, create, and endure.
