Lord Swraj Paul (Swaraj Paul) was a prominent British entrepreneur, philanthropist, and life peer of Indian birth. He was the founder of Caparo Group, one of the UK's largest steel firms, and occupied leading positions in industry, education, and public life in India and Britain.
Acclaimed for his entrepreneurial spirit and philanthropic work, Lord Paul died in August 2025 aged 94.
Swraj Paul Education
Swraj Paul was born in 1931 at Jalandhar, Punjab, India. He studied:
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Labbu Ram Doaba School, Jalandhar for primary education.
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Doaba College, Jalandhar and Forman Christian College, Lahore for graduation.
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Punjab University, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering.
He pursued higher studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, and gained postgraduate education in mechanical engineering and manufacturing.
Business Career & Accomplishments
Caparo Group's Founder: Swraj Paul established Caparo Group in the UK in 1968. From steel trading, he built the business into a diversified group that became one of Britain's largest private-owned businesses, with steel, automotive components, design, engineering, energy, logistics, financial services, hospitality, and private equity being its diversified interests.
Global Reach: Caparo had its presence in more than 40 locations spread over the UK, India, USA, Canada, and UAE, and employed over 8,500 individuals at strategic locations around the globe.
Strategic Ventures:
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Caparo Maruti Ltd (CML): Joint venture with Maruti Suzuki in India, established in 1994, offering sheet metal and weld assemblies for the automotive industry.
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Caparo Engineering India Ltd (CEIL): Established in 2000 to serve other Indian vehicle manufacturers; helped increase Caparo's presence significantly in India.
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Takeover Bids: Paul's aggressive takeover bids for prominent Indian companies like Escorts and Shriram Industries during the 1980s brought about major business and political changes in India, particularly the establishment of the powerful "Bombay Club".
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Additional Roles: Served on boards, furthered Indo-British relations, and led organizations such as the Indo-British Association.
Awards & Honours
Swraj Paul’s accomplishments were recognized globally, with many prestigious awards and positions conferred upon him:
| Year/Period | Award/Honour | Presented By |
| 1978 | Knighted (UK Knighthood) | Queen Elizabeth II |
| 1983 | Padma Bhushan (India’s 3rd highest civilian award) | Government of India |
| 1996 | Life Peerage (Baron Paul of Marylebone) | UK Parliament |
| 1998 | Freedom of the City of London | City of London |
| 1995 | Donald C. Burnham Manufacturing Management Award | Society of Manufacturing Engineers, USA |
| 1989 | Corporate Leadership Award | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
| 1987, 2008 | Lifetime Achievement Awards | Asian Who’s Who, Asian Business Awards |
| 2011 | Global Indian of the Year | PowerBrands Hall of Fame |
| 2013-2018 | Multiple International Icon and Lifetime Achievement Awards | Global Skill Tree consortium, IOD, WCRC, NRI Institute, Black Country Asian Business Association |
| 2008-2014 | Chancellorships: Thames Valley University, University of Wolverhampton, University of Westminster | UK Universities |
| - | 15 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships | Universities in UK, USA, India, Russia, Switzerland |
Philanthropy
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Swraj Paul was a passionate philanthropist and contributed to causes in child health, education, and community development.
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Established the Ambika Paul Foundation in honor of his daughter, which provided capital for grand projects for children and animals.
Net Worth
Lord Swraj Paul's net worth was estimated at more than $900 million (USD) at the time of his death in 2025, primarily from the Caparo Group and investments related to it.
His family is among the richest and most powerful in the UK and India.
Lord Swraj Paul’s legacy is defined by his transformation from a mechanical engineer to a global industrialist, his influence in public service, and his commitment to philanthropy. His life’s work continues to inspire generations in industry and charitable circles across India and the UK.
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