Shri. K. Paul Thomas is a visionary leader and social reformer who has made a significant impact in the fields of banking, financial services, and social entrepreneurship. A born leader of the masses, he has founded a diverse group of companies, ESAF, which has brought about positive change across India. He is a passionate leader who has dedicated his life to the upliftment of underprivileged communities and has made significant contributions towards promoting financial inclusion in the country.
CHILDHOOD
Being brought up in a farming family, Shri. K. Paul Thomas was intimately connected to the rhythms of nature from a young age. He used to silently witness the tireless dedication his father, Shri. K. P. Thomas, had put in at the fields, instilling in him a deep love for agriculture and a profound respect for mother earth. His god-fearing mother, Smt. Achamma Thomas, used to go all out to support her husband in the fields, and at the same time, she ensured that the kitchen was never devoid of food for the inhabitants. The hard work and dedication of his parents imbued in him a sense of discipline and a commitment to Christian values.
In short, the values he gathered from his family shaped his character as a child. His brother and two sisters were no different. They were inspired by his vision and encouraged him in all his endeavours, as he embarked on multiple journeys to fulfil his vision. His alma mater, MMUP School Valkulambu and the Govt. High School Kizhakkenchery also influenced his outlook and carved out his unique personality. At the Government run schools, he encountered students from all walks of life and gained a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by people in his community.
This enabled him to exhibit a proclivity for critical thinking, as he began to question the world around him through his thoughts. He was deeply moved by the suffering he witnessed among his fellow human beings. The prevailing social inequalities and discrimination that plagued society for long, compounded his cup of woes. Yes, his constant probing to find answers to the questions that haunted him resulted in the founding of solutions to some of the most pressing problems of his time.
No wonder he embarked on a lifelong quest for knowledge and understanding, seeking out the wisdom of others and pursuing his own inner journey of spirituality. Every step of the way, he remained committed to the values instilled in him by his parents and his rural upbringing. Hard work, discipline, faith, empathy and a deep love for the land were the traits that adorned his personality. Each step in his life was a necessary part of the journey that would eventually lead him to the answers he sought, and each moment was filled with a passion that would come to define his life's work.
EARLY YEARS: GODLY VISION
Unlike many youngsters, Shri K. Paul Thomas chose to be different during his college days. Along with academics, he used to immerse himself in activities that fostered profound personal growth and deep transformation. Inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ he became the leader of the Union of Evangelical Students of India (UESI); a move that shaped his views and deepened his understanding of the world around him.
No wonder he was cast in the mould of servant leadership from his young days. A trait that left a lasting impression on him and radiated to the people around him. He believes in leading by serving, a philosophy that he still practices. In other words, biblical perspectives laid the foundation for him to spread the joy of serving. The fact that he was able to institutionalise his values and beliefs in the form of ESAF, is a testament to the strength of the foundation.
His learnings, centred around love, compassion, and selflessness, were the inspirations to follow his purpose in life. It was deeply reflected in his empathetic approach towards problems and the way he carved a niche business model to serve others. An experimental social attempt that started with 10 women then led to the building of resilient communities and villages that could withstand adversities.
Gifted with a social and empathetic DNA, he seamlessly moulded the values he learnt during his college days into a future of hope. Yes, his values and beliefs continue to guide him every day, and it is pretty evident in the growth of the organisation he steers.
IFFCO DAYS
As fate would have it, his focus and vision led him to the doors of IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited), the largest cooperative fertiliser company in the world. The profile of a Sales Executive at IFFCO jelled well with his vision to become an agent of social change. While travelling the length and breadth of the country, he was fond of understanding the plight of the villagers, and through books and interactions, he constantly tried to find solutions. He gained a unique perspective on the struggles and hardships that rural communities faced and empathised with them.
His experiences in IFFCO have been crucial to his success as a social entrepreneur, enabling him to identify critical social issues and develop innovative solutions to address them. From there, he nurtured the seeds of his dream that targeted the holistic transformation of the poor and the marginalised. A society addicted to drugs and the evils of unemployment spurred him to find a solution to societal woes. His constant pursuit of solutions, culminated in the formation of ESAF as an NGO. The man never stopped learning. He realised the importance of financial components for holistic transformation in addition to advisory services. Thus, the NGO witnessed quite a few transformations and became a financial institution of repute. He realised the power of collectives during his IFFCO days, which resulted in the formation of ESAF Agro Co-operative Society. As his learnings grew, the horizon of his service also expanded which resulted in 31 entities under ESAF Group of Social Enterprises.
FOUNDATION OF ESAF
A divine call for social transformation struck him during the late 80s. His stint at IFFCO accelerated his passion to follow the divine call for social reformation. In a blurred environment where societal issues were piling up, he stepped inside with a clear vision to find solutions. With the support of his wife, Smt. Mereena Paul, and his spiritual leader, Shri. Jacob Samuel, he founded ESAF with the sole motto of fighting the partiality of prosperity. A remarkable voyage of social entrepreneurship followed. A voyage that transformed the lives of millions of people across India. With the clarity of a sailor, Shri K. Paul Thomas steered the ship in the right direction amidst treacherous and favourable waterways.
As an NGO, ESAF started its journey in 1992, with a focus on advisory services to address social issues. Through Career Guidance Programmes, the organisation tried to tame the evils of unemployment. Through Disaster Relief Programmes, they extended to the victims, a shoulder to lean on. To build a morally conscious society, they spread awareness on topics like AIDS and to free the youngsters from the spiralling temptation of drugs, they conducted anti-tobacco/drugs campaigns. Even though their initiatives began to show some immediate results, Shri. K. Paul Thomas was worried about one missing link - the holistic transformation of the poor and the marginalised. Thus, Micro-Enterprise Development Initiative was launched in Kerala for the first time. This pioneering initiative gave significant emphasis to women’s empowerment. And it all started with a humble sum of ₹30,000, which was given as loans to 10 women entrepreneurs. The rest is history. After three decades of service, the ₹30,000 capital invested for holistic transformation acquired valuable shine and became more than ₹30,000 cr as on 31st March 2023.
Shri. K. Paul Thomas’s commitment to learning was best exemplified in the efforts he had taken in 1997 to meet Prof. Muhammed Yunus, the Nobel Laureate for Peace and the man who pioneered the microcredit concept. This meeting resulted in the first seed capital for the ESAF as a financial institution.
Under the leadership of Shri. Paul Thomas, ESAF grew to be a multifaceted group of social enterprises committed to improving the lives of people in need. Over the years, ESAF has expanded its operations to different segments like dairy, agriculture, retail, healthcare, education and infrastructure. It has also carved a niche for itself in the cooperative sector.
The focus on social and human upliftment led it to expand its operations to central India, after becoming an NBFC. Later in 2017, ESAF Small Finance Bank was launched with a focus on financial inclusion. The organisation continues to create waves while promoting social and economic development across India. Being a trailblazer in the social entrepreneurship space, he has built a foundation based on ethical and responsible practices. In other words, through divine destiny, he was able to build the organisation as an agent of hope.
FAMILY
Shri. K. Paul Thomas is married to Smt. Mereena Paul, who currently serves as the Executive Director of ESAF Foundation. The couple has four children – Emy Acha Paul, Alok Thomas Paul, Abhishek Joe Paul and Ashish Chris Paul. Emy Acha Paul, Director, Prachodhan Development Services, is married to Samu Thomas John and they have two children, Keith John and Micah Paul John. Born in 1992, Emy was fortunate to see the growth of ESAF from the beginning itself. Alok Thomas Paul is the Managing Director of CEDAR Retail Pvt. Ltd. and is married to Miriam Ann Philip. Abhishek Joe Paul and Ashish Chris Paul are currently pursuing their studies.
SERVANT LEADERSHIP STYLE
As a leader who embodies qualities of perseverance, humility, and eagerness to learn, the Servant Leadership style is something that comes naturally to him. For him, the needs of the community outweigh his own needs.
Through a unique combination of vision and pragmatism, he has made a significant impact in the fields he chose. Financial Services was just his trump card to achieve his vision of social reformation.
Despite being a first-time banker, he was able to adapt to the demands of the job quite easily from the beginning. His eagerness to learn from his colleagues is pretty evident from the way he articulates himself. He is always available to his staff, even at the ground level, and to the customers, even at the last mile. His eagerness to listen and the wisdom he gained through interactions helped him to develop a strong sense of empathy. No wonder, for the problems of society, he found creative and practical solutions.
The social orientation that he acquired over the years is well reflected in the work of ESAF. His innate ability to bring people together, unparalleled passion to convince others of his ideas, and love to address large gatherings, supported by profound oratory skills, helped him to convey his ideas with clarity and conviction.
Yes, his leadership qualities, coupled with humility, have been instrumental in the success of ESAF, and he continues to inspire others with his social work.