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British Indian industrialist and philanthropist Swraj Paul dies at 94
In the United States, he built Bull Moose Tube into one of North America’s largest producers of steel pipes and tubes.
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Malvika Choudhary - Sat, 23, Aug 2025
- 13:35 EDT
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Swraj Paul and Narendra Modi / X (Narendra Modi)
India-born British industrialist, philanthropist and parliamentarian Swraj Paul passed away in London on Aug. 21. He was 94.
Paul, who moved to Britain in the 1960s, founded the Caparo Group in 1968. The company grew into one of the United Kingdom’s largest steel and engineering businesses, employing thousands across operations in Europe, North America, India and the Middle East.
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In the United States, he built Bull Moose Tube into one of North America’s largest producers of steel pipes and tubes. John Krupinski, chief executive of the firm, said employees valued Paul’s personal connection with staff. “On each and every visit to our locations in North America, he expressed his gratitude towards all who worked for him by personally greeting and thanking them,” he said.
Paul was appointed to the House of Lords in 1996, served as Deputy Speaker in 2008 and was made a member of the Privy Council in 2009. From 1998 to 2010, he acted as an official ambassador for British business. Paul also co-chaired the Indo-British Roundtable between 2000 and 2005.
Much of his philanthropy was carried out through the Aruna and Ambika Paul Foundation, named after his late daughter and later his wife. The foundation supported educational, cultural and health initiatives worldwide, including major donations to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Zoological Society of London, the University of Wolverhampton and the University of Westminster.
Paul served as chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton from 1998 and of the University of Westminster from 2006 to 2014. In 2020, he gave $5 million to MIT for the creation of the Swraj Paul Theatre at Kresge Auditorium.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on X. “Deeply saddened by the passing of Swaraj Paul Ji. His contributions to industry, philanthropy and public service in the UK, and his unwavering support for closer ties with India will always be remembered. I fondly recall our many interactions. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” he posted.
Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Swaraj Paul Ji. His contributions to industry, philanthropy and public service in the UK, and his unwavering support for closer ties with India will always be remembered. I fondly recall our many interactions. Condolences to his family and… pic.twitter.com/6G7D4gDDD1
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 22, 2025
Born in Jalandhar, Punjab, in 1931, Paul completed his early education at Forman Christian College in Lahore and Doaba College in Jalandhar before moving to the United States, where he earned bachelor’s, master’s and mechanical engineering degrees from MIT. After briefly working in his family’s Apeejay business in India, he settled in the United Kingdom.
He is survived by his children and grandchildren. Leadership of Caparo and Bull Moose Tube will continue under his eldest son, Ambar Paul.
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