Kuwait City: Noted industrialist, Mathunny Mathews, popularly known as Toyota Sunny, who had donned a pivotal role in helping Indians to repatriate during the Iraq occupation of Kuwait, passed away on Saturday. He was 81. Mathews had been ailing.

During the Iraq occupation of Kuwait in 1990, when the government authorities pleaded helpless in supporting the Non-Resident Indians, Mathews reached to their rescue and helped them return to India safely. It was his constant communication with the United Nations and the central government that ensured the safe return of Indians.

Mathews' mission inspired filmmaker, Raja Krishna Menon, to make the film, Airlift. Mathews was also in the forefront to lend support and confidence to the Indian community in Kuwait during the Gulf war in 2003.

Mathews, son of the late A.C.Mathew and Aachiamma of Kumbanad in Pathanamthitta, reached Kuwait in search of a job in 1956 and joined the Nazar Mohammed Al-Sayer and Company in 1957. He retired from service as general manager in 1989.

Following a surge in the marketing and sales of Toyota cars under the tutelage of Mathews, he came to be known as Toyota Sunny. He formed Safeena Car Rental Company and Safeena General Trading Company in 1990.

He was the chairman of the Jabria Indian School and one of the main founders of the Indian Art Circle in Kuwait. Mathews had also officiated as chairman of the Indian Business Council. He had played a main role in the constitution of the Malayali Christian Congregation too.

He is survived by wife Mary Mathew and children James M. Mathews, Annnie M. Mathew (Delhi) and Susan M. Mathews (lawyer, United Nations Human Rights Commission, Geneva).