Apeejay founder passes away at 91

On Monday,Stya Paul — industrialist,philanthropist,educationist and freedom fighter — breathed his last after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. He was 91.

Paul was Chairman Emeritus of the Apeejay Stya Group and Svran Group,the Founder-President of the Apeejay Education Society and the Founder of the recently established Apeejay Stya University in Haryana.

“He suffered a heart attack while getting dressed after having his breakfast,” said an acquaintance. He was the elder brother of UK-based industrialist Lord Swraj Paul.

From the age of two,Stya Paul was inflicted with polio. “But he overcame the disability to emerge as one of the most important nation builders,” said the acquaintance. “During his college days he had a manually powered tricycle,but later he underwent an operation and could walk with the help of callipers.”

Born in 1919 in Jalandhar,Stya Paul moved to Lahore in Pakistan with his family. “He lost his mother at a young age,and had to walk on crutches. Life was difficult. But with his willpower,he proved that nothing is impossible,” said D K Bedi,principal of Apeejay School,Pitampura.

The family later returned to Jalandhar and started their own business enterprise. Paul was good in Mathematics and after matriculation,he won a merit scholarship to DAV College in Jalandhar. A gold medallist in BA Honours Mathematics,he completed his MA in Mathematics from Government College in Lahore in 1941.

“Even though he walked on crutches,he loved playing football,” said an acquaintance. “He also played an active role in the freedom struggle and went to jail for 52 days.”

Paul also compiled his favourite verses and quotes into a book,Reflections in Time. “Even at an advanced age,he retained his zeal for hard work and remained involved in the day-to-day running of the Apeejay institutions,” said a school principal.

“He served as the president of the Engineering Association of India,the Federation of Engineering Industries of India and the Northern India Chamber of Commerce. He also served for several years as the chairman of the Handicapped Committee of the Rotary Club of Delhi Midtown,” said an Apeejay Education Society official. Paul’s last rites will be performed on Tuesday at 4 pm at Nigambodh Ghat. He is survived by his wife,daughter Sushma and grandchildren.