The man who lost to 'Bombay Club'

Despite the many tragedies in his life — his daughter Ambika passed away at age 4 because of leukemia, and son Angad, 45, fell to death from his penthouse in 2015 — Swraj Paul knew how to hide his sorrow behind an always smiling face.

- FE BUREAU

DESPITE THE MANY tragedies in his life — his daughter Ambika passed away at age 4 because of leukemia, and son Angad, 45, fell to death from his penthouse in 2015 — Swraj Paul knew how to hide his sorrow behind an always smiling face.

He didn't lose his sense of humour, too, till almost the last. At a function in Leicester a couple of years ago where he was receiving a lifetime achievement award, a friend wanted to know: "Why are you still working?" Paul's reply was typical: "At my age, what else can I do?"

As he passed away at age 94 on Thursday evening in London, which remained his home after he left India in the 1960s, the India-born Chairman of the Caparo Group would be remembered as much for his zeal for life as also for the indelible mark he made in the business and industrial spheres in India, the UK and other countries.

The journey from the bylanes of Jalandhar to becoming a regular name in the annual 'Sunday Times Rich List' (this year he was ranked 81st with an estimated wealth of £2 billion) was stupendous indeed, making Paul one of the most well known NRI entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Headquartered in London, Caparo operates internationally from over 40 sites, with operations based in the UK, India, North America, and the Middle East.