Indian industrialist Mathews dies at 81

Sunny Mathews, a well-known Indian industrialist and community leader, passed away yesterday at his residence in Qadsiya, Kuwait following a long illness. He was 81.

Mathews, also called as Mathunny Mathews, played a significant role in the safe airlift evacuation of about 170,000 Indians from Kuwait during the 1990 Invasion of Kuwait. The evacuation is hailed as the world’s largest civilian evacuation in history. Mathews is survived by wife Mary Mathews and children Joy Mathews, Annie Mathews and Susan Mathews.

Indian Ambassador Suni Jain, while conveying condolences to the bereaved family, said he is deeply saddened by the death of Mathews whose invaluable service to the Indian community during the Iraqi Invasion will always be remembered. The ambassador recalled that Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Gen V K Singh had visited the residence of Mathews and wished him speedy recovery when the minister arrived in Kuwait on a state visit in September last year. With the help of Mathews, the massive evacuation of Indians was carried out from 13 August to 11 October 1990 after the Invasion of Kuwait.

Matthews, who hailed from Eraviperoor, Kerala in India, was popularly known as Toyota Sunny in the Indian community owing to his work in Kuwait with the Toyota agency owned by the Al-Sayer Group. He retired in 1989 as its Managing Director. Mathews, who arrived in Kuwait by ship in 1956, was also the chairman of the Indian School in Kuwait and one of the founding members of the Indian Arts Circle.