Anil Agarwal, chairman of the Vedanta Group and one of India’s most prominent industrialists, has announced the untimely death of his son, Agnivesh Agarwal, aged 49, describing the loss as the “darkest day” of his life after a sudden cardiac arrest in the United States.
Agnivesh Agarwal had been hospitalised at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York following injuries sustained in a skiing accident. According to the family, his condition initially appeared to be stabilising, with doctors expressing optimism about his recovery before his health deteriorated unexpectedly due to the cardiac event.
In an emotional post on social media platform X, Anil Agarwal wrote that his son was “healthy, full of life, and dreams” and that the family believed the worst had passed. “But fate had other plans, and a sudden cardiac arrest snatched our son away from us,” he said.
A Distinguished Career Cut Short
Born on 3 June 1976 in Patna, Agnivesh was educated at Mayo College, Ajmer, and went on to establish a distinguished professional trajectory. He played a key role in founding Fujeirah Gold and later served as Chairman of Hindustan Zinc, earning respect across the business community for his leadership and acumen.
Agnivesh was remembered not only for his achievements in industry but also for his personal qualities. In his tribute, Agarwal highlighted his son’s passion for sports and music, his humility, compassion and humanity. “Beyond all his achievements, he remained simple, deeply human and kind. To me, he was not just my son. He was my friend. My pride. My world,” the Vedanta chairman said.
Family in Mourning
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the family and business circles. In the same statement, Agarwal acknowledged the profound grief felt by himself and his wife, Kiran. “Kiran and I are broken,” he wrote, underscoring the emotional toll of the loss on the family.
Agnivesh Agarwal’s belief in India’s potential and commitment to social development were also highlighted by his father, who renewed a pledge to dedicate a significant portion of his own earnings to social causes in his son’s memory. The industrialist said he would live an even simpler life while working to ensure that no child goes hungry, no one is denied education and every woman and young Indian has meaningful opportunities.
The news of Agnivesh Agarwal’s passing has prompted an outpouring of condolences from across India’s corporate and wider communities, reflecting on his contributions and the tragic nature of his sudden death abroad. |
