Ambika, the daughter of leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul, who had died of leukaemia at four years of age, was fondly remembered at a function at the London Zoo here Sunday evening.
Lord Paul came to London in 1966 seeking a cure for his fourth child, Ambika who was suffering from leukaemia.
Inspite of efforts to save her she died on April 19, 1968.
During breaks from her treatment, her parents would bring her favourite spot the London Zoo where see could see the animals that she loved.
Sarah Brown, wife of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former Foreign Secretary David Miliband, India's High Commissioner to the UK Nalin Surie, Pakistan and Bangladesh's High Commissioners to the UK Wajid Samsul Hasan and Syed Rehman Khan respectively and former London Mayor Ken Livingstone among others attended the occasion.
In 1992, when London zoo was on the verge of closure, the Paul family donated one million pounds to resuscitate it, to build a new Children's Zoo and the Ambika Paul Memorial
Gardens.
Ambika has been a source of strength to the family and "Whatever I am today, is because of her," Lord Paul said in an emotionally-choked voice.
He expressed happiness that so many people - estimated to be 1,500 - including children could come to the Zoo for the function.
"Sarah has been coming to the function every year since 1994 when we opened the memorial and Gordon Brown came during the three years he was Prime Minister and before that as Chancellor and shadow Chancellor. They are great family and
great family friends and we value their friendship," he said.
Sarah Brown, who had specially flown in from Scotland described the Paul family as a "great friend". She said the occasion this time was rather subdued because of the recent death of Stya Paul, the elder brother of Lord Paul in New
Delhi.