Entrepreneur Kuttukaran Porinchu Paul dead

Thrissur, Mar 16 (UNI) Kuttukaran Porinchu Paul, founder of the Kuttukaran group of companies, including Popular Automobiles, passed away at a private hospital here today.

He was 92.

He was hospitalised two days ago with a heart ailment and is survived by two sons and four daughters.

The funeral will be held at the Mar Adhai Saleeha Church in Paravattani here on March 18.

Paul's life was an inspiring saga of enterprise, enthusiasm and business acumen. In a literally rags-to-riches story, Paul did not have much to boast of by way of business background, financial backing or even education.

He entered the field of business in 1939 with a paltry capital of Rs 150, setting up a washing home.

The success of the venture motivated the establishment in 1941 of the Popular Industrials for vulcanisation of tyres and tubes and battery repair. From this the march to automobile spare parts retailing was smooth and easy and the year 1944 saw the setting up of Popular Automobiles, a name that went on to become synonymous with the automobile industry in Kerala.

The Kuttukaran group today has assets worth more than Rs 100 crore, a total turnover of Rs 750 crore and over 3000 employees.

UNI