At home, in tears: Lord Paul returns

‘‘Ever since I landed in Jalandhar, I’ve thought of nothing but this,’’ he said eyes brimming over. Touching the walls, steadying himself against a door, he let his wonder show at the change that time had wrought on the brick and mortar structure he called home. ‘‘It has changed so much,’’ he said.

But he didn’t let his emotions dim his wits. On being asked why it took him so long to visit the city, he said: ‘‘You never invited me.’’

Going down the memory lane, Lord Paul recalled how his father, Pyare Lal, mother, Mongwati, four brothers and three sisters stayed on the first floor of the building. ‘‘It was a big family and we had loads of fun,’’ he smiled.

But this bliss was shattered when he lost his mother at the age of seven. Six year later, his father also passed away, leaving Paul and his siblings in the care of his elder brother Satya Paul, founder of the Apeejay School. ‘‘He took good care of us,’’ Paul said of his brother as he got himself photographed alongside the statues of his parents.

He also paid his dues to India by letting the gathering know that the country had changed for the better. Lord Paul, recently appointed the Ambassador of Britain for Business, also announced the opening of a visa application centre here in January.