Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Tributes paid to Bristol Labs director PM Raju

Tributes paid to Bristol Labs director PM Raju

THE co-founder and a senior director of Bristol Laboratories, one of the country’s leading ge­neric medicine manufacturers, died last Sunday (14) after con­tracting coronavirus.

PM Raju was admitted to the Royal Brompton Hospital in Lon­don last month after his condi­tion deteriorated following the Covid infection.


He succumbed to complica­tions from the virus, having been in the intensive care unit of the hospital for a month. He was 63 and is survived by his wife, Grace, his two sons, Hanson and Benson and his daughter-in law, Jisha.

Raju helped found Bristol Lab­oratories and played a key role in its meteoric growth over the past decade. He was a close friend and associate of T Ramachandran, the founder and chairman and managing director of the company.

thumbnail PHOTO 2021 02 17 13 44 41 e1613643840722 T Ramachandran (left) with PM Raju.

The two friends started the business from a small office in Harrow, north London in 1997. It soon grew to be an enterprise spanning the UK and Europe.

Ramachandran said: “I can never forget 40 years of uncondi­tional partnership with him being by my side and with my family in happiness and sorrow.

“He was a brother to me and my wife Sreedevi and a beloved uncle to my daughters. Words will never do justice for the greatness of one soul who touched the lives of everyone he met.”

Both entrepreneurs formed a close association while working for several years at IPCA Labora­tories – a large pharmaceutical company based in India.

In 1997, Raju moved to the UK to help Ramachandran set up Bristol Laboratories. He had since been overseeing all aspects of the company’s growth as its “second in command”.

In a statement, Bristol Labora­tories said, “His passion, drive and loyalty towards the business was not just a professional one but a personal commitment to serve and excel in the field.

“He was a caring father, a pas­sionate leader and always a phone call away when you need­ed him. He never said no to any­one and has left a void in our hearts forever.”

Raju was a respected and pop­ular member of British pharma industry who did much to push innovation and develop new ter­ritories for Bristol Laboratories.

A regular presence at industry events, he built strong relation­ships with wholesalers and com­munity pharmacists who came to rely on Bristol Laboratories’ ex­tensive product portfolio.

Paying tribute, Sigma Pharma­ceuticals’s Bharat Shah said, “I have known Raju for more than 20 years. I have seen him trans­form from an export executive in India with IPCA to becoming a very powerful executive with Bristol Labs in the UK.

“He was instrumental in devel­oping Bristol Laboratories to one of the leading generic medicine manufacturers in the UK. He would help everyone in the most polite and effective manner. He will be greatly missed not only in the ge­nerics industry in the UK, but al­so by people who knew him.”

Born in Adoor, in India’s south­ern state of Kerala, Raju complet­ed his graduation in commerce from Kerala University.

He was the founder and a dedi­cated member of the Indian Or­thodox Church in Hemel Hemp­stead, serving as the council member of the Diocese of UK-Europe and Africa for several years.

Diocesan Bishop Dr Mathews Mar Thimothios Metropolitan of the Indian Orthodox Church said: “He always stood as a pillar on my right side for all my missions of the diocese.”

Raju also played an important role in helping to establish a Malayalee Christian community in north London.

A religious leader who knew Raju described how he helped members of the community.

“When people (from Kerala) landed in the UK, whoever got in touch with him would always get plenty of help – anything from finding accommodation to find­ing a job,” he said.

More For You

Andrew Tate Sued by Ex-Girlfriend Brianna Stern Over Sexual Assault Allegations

Tate’s attorney, Joseph McBride, has dismissed the lawsuit

Getty

Andrew Tate faces sexual assault lawsuit from ex-girlfriend Brianna Stern

Social media personality Andrew Tate is facing a new lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend, Brianna Stern, who has accused him of sexual assault, battery, and gender violence. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, details allegations of abuse and an incident that allegedly took place at The Beverly Hills Hotel on 11 March 2025.

Allegations in the lawsuit

According to the legal complaint, Stern claims that Tate initially appeared as a "dream come true" but later became emotionally and physically abusive. The lawsuit describes a violent encounter at the hotel, where she alleges Tate physically assaulted and threatened her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Voices of Faith 2025: A journey through spirituality and wisdom

Soumik Datta (R) and Gurdain Singh Rayatt

Voices of Faith 2025: A journey through spirituality and wisdom

Mahesh Liloriya

The inaugural edition of Voices of Faith commenced on Friday at the iconic Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, marking the beginning of an extraordinary three-day festival exploring theological philosophies, interfaith dialogues, and the deeper essence of spirituality through conversations, music, and healing vibes.

Organised by Teamwork Arts, the creators of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) and JLF London, Voices of Faith is presented by the Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust, with the support of Tech Mahindra. Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat serve as the official media partners of this landmark event. This unique festival seeks to offer insights into navigating the complexities of modern life through the timeless wisdom enshrined in global religious traditions. It focuses on the universal ideals of compassion and interconnectedness that underpin the world’s faiths, fostering dialogue that transcends barriers and deepens mutual understanding.

Keep ReadingShow less
Court reopens Asian child sex offender's deportation case

Home Office successfully challenged a ruling that allowed him to remain in Britain (Photo for representation: iStock)

Court reopens Asian child sex offender's deportation case

A PAKISTANI man convicted of sexually assaulting a child under 13 will face a fresh deportation hearing after the Home Office successfully challenged a ruling that allowed him to remain in Britain, reported The Times.

The offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had initially won his case to stay in the UK after claiming he would face "inhuman or degrading treatment" if sent back to Pakistan due to his alcoholism.

Keep ReadingShow less
India launches Operation Brahma to aid quake-hit Myanmar

Rescue teams work to save residents trapped under the rubble of the destroyed Sky Villa Condominium development in Mandalay on March 29, 2025. (Photo by SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)

India launches Operation Brahma to aid quake-hit Myanmar

INDIA has swiftly responded to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar by launching Operation Brahma, sending emergency relief and rescue teams to the disaster-stricken nation.

A C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force landed in Yangon on Saturday (29), carrying 15 tonnes of relief supplies including hygiene kits, blankets and food parcels. The aid mission comes after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday (28), killing more than 1,000 people and injuring nearly 2,400 others.

Keep ReadingShow less
Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

Pakistan stands at 109th place out of 147 countries

Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

THE UK has experienced a significant blow to its national morale, plummeting to 23rd place in the World Happiness Report for 2025 – its lowest ranking ever – despite being the world’s sixth richest nation.

Released to mark the UN’s International Day of Happiness last Thursday (20), the report provided a nuanced exploration of national contentment that extends far beyond economic measurements.

Keep ReadingShow less