BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 6th March 2024: The state of Tripura mourned the loss of one of its prominent businessmen, Swapan Kumar Paul, who passed away at the age of 68 on Tuesday. Paul, who was the owner of Ramkrishna Industries, Tata Motors and Oscar Ford in Agartala, succumbed to a prolonged illness at AMRI hospital in Kolkata. His mortal remains were flown back to his hometown on Wednesday morning, where he received a grand and emotional farewell from his family, friends, and admirers.
Paul’s body was first taken to his residence Walford at BK Road, where hundreds of people gathered to pay their last respects. Among them were several political leaders, including former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, former Transport minister Manik Dey, ex-MLA Pabitra Kar, Headlines Tripura editor Pranab Sarkar, Tripura Observer editor Arun Nath, Tripura Times Managing Editor Avishikta Lodh and many more. They laid wreaths on Paul’s coffin and expressed their condolences to his grieving family.
From there, Paul’s body was taken to Sri Krishna Mandir at Ranirbazar, where he was a regular devotee. The Ranirbazar Market Committee, of which Paul was a respected president, also paid homage to him. The local merchants and shopkeepers recalled Paul’s contributions to the development of the market and the welfare of the traders.
The Transport minister and MLA of Majlishpur assembly constituency, Sushanta Chowdhury, also visited the temple and offered floral tributes to Paul. He praised Paul’s entrepreneurial spirit and his social service. He said that Paul was a role model for the young generation and his demise was a huge loss for the state.
After the temple visit, Paul’s body was taken to his ancestral house at Ranirbazar Nalgaria, where his relatives, neighbours, and friends bid him a final goodbye. Minister Sushanta Chowdhury also accompanied him and later, former Transport minister Manik Dey also arrived. They remembered Paul as a humble, generous, and kind-hearted person, who always helped the needy and supported various social causes.
Finally, Paul’s body was taken to the Ranirbazar crematorium, where he was cremated with full honour and dignity. His sons, Abhijit and Suvajit, performed the last rites, while his daughter-in-law, and other family members watched with tears in their eyes. The cremation was attended by a large number of people, who prayed for the peace of Paul’s soul.
Swapan Kumar Paul was a well-known figure in Tripura’s business and social circles. He started his career as a small trader and gradually expanded his business to become one of the leading tycoon in the state. He was also involved in various philanthropic activities and donated generously for social services. He was honoured with several awards and recognitions for his achievements and service. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter-in-law.
