New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed his condolences on the passing of Lord Swaraj Paul, noting the significant impact of his work in philanthropy and public service in the United Kingdom. He also praised Paul’s dedication to strengthening India-UK relations.
In a post on X, PM Modi recalled his personal interactions with Swaraj Paul and extended sympathies to his family and admirers.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Swaraj Paul Ji. His contributions to industry, philanthropy, and public service in the UK, along with his steadfast support for closer ties with India, will always be remembered. I fondly recall our many interactions. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” PM Modi wrote.
Born in Jalandhar in 1931, Swaraj Paul went on to become the Chairman of the Caparo Group, which he founded in the UK in 1968. A distinguished British businessman and philanthropist, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1983.
Paul also established the Indo-British Association in 1975 to foster better understanding between India and the UK, serving as its Chairman, according to the Caparo Group’s official website.
The UK hosts a sizable Indian diaspora, numbering 1.864 million as per the 2021 Census, representing around 2.6% of the country’s total population of 68 million (2022 estimate), according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The MEA previously highlighted a report titled India in the UK: The Diaspora Effect, prepared by Grant Thornton and FICCI in March 2022, which noted that over 65,000 companies in the UK are owned by members of the Indian diaspora.
