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Indian-British billionaire industrialist Gopichand Paramanand Hinduja passed away in London on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 85. Popularly known as GP in business circles, he was a second-generation businessman from the Hinduja family, transforming a trading business into a global conglomerate and frequently topping the rich list in the UK. He had joined the family business, founded by his father, Paramanand Deepchand (PD) Hinduja, in Sindh (undivided India), in Mumbai in 1959 after graduating from Bombay’s (now Mumbai) Jai Hind College. Srichand Hinduja, who passed away in 2023, along with brothers GP, Prakash and Ashok, carried on PD’s legacy, transforming the Hinduja Group into a global conglomerate with footprints across 38 countries. Gopichand was the Chairman of the Hinduja Group, whose businesses, including automotives, lubricants and specialty chemicals, banking and finance, digital technology and enabled services, energy and healthcare, spanned across Asia and Europe. Significant business move According to the Hinduja Group website, the Group made a significant business move under GP’s leadership when it acquired Gulf Oil in 1984, closely followed by the acquisition of the then-struggling Indian automotive manufacturer, Ashok Leyland, in 1987, which was then the first major NRI investment in India. GP was also the visionary behind the Group’s forays into the Power and Infrastructure sectors, spearheading the effort to shape the Group’s plan to build multi-GW Energy generation capacity in India. In a social media post, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said: Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Gopichand P. Hinduja, Chairman of the Hinduja Group. A visionary industrialist, he was instrumental in transforming the Group into a truly global conglomerate. His leadership saw landmark achievements, from the acquisition of Gulf Oil in 1984 to the revival of Ashok Leyland. “He also guided the Group’s entry into the power and infrastructure sectors. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire Hinduja Group. May his legacy continue to inspire generations.” Suresh Prabhu, who served as a Minister in the NDA government led by PM Atal Behari Vajpayee in the 1998-2004 period, in a social media post said: “Saddened to learn about the demise of Shri Gopichand Hinduja Ji, a distinguished industrialist who played a pivotal role in building and expanding major global enterprises. Despite living in London, he always remained deeply connected to his Indian roots and contributed significantly to the nation’s economic landscape. My heartfelt condolences to the Hinduja family in this moment of grief.” Published on November 4, 2025
