Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow on Thursday following the sudden demise of Agnivesh Agarwal, a director of the Vedanta Group. The 49-year-old executive passed away in the United States after suffering a cardiac arrest, which occurred during his recovery from a skiing accident.
PM Modi's Tribute and Family's Grief
Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi described the news as deeply shocking and saddening. "The untimely passing of Shri Agnivesh Agarwal is deeply shocking and saddening," the Prime Minister wrote. He extended his prayers for strength and courage to the bereaved family and concluded with "Om Shanti."
The tragic news was confirmed by his father, metals magnate Anil Agarwal, in an emotional post on the same platform. He revealed that his son had been "recovering well" from his injuries at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York before the sudden cardiac arrest on Wednesday. "A sudden cardiac arrest snatched our son away from us," Anil Agarwal stated, sharing heartfelt memories of Agnivesh's life and character.
Who Was Agnivesh Agarwal?
Agnivesh Agarwal was born in Patna on June 3, 1976. He was the son of Anil Agarwal, the founder of Vedanta Resources, who transformed a small scrap metal business into a global mining and metals conglomerate headquartered in London.
Educated at the prestigious Mayo College in Ajmer, Agnivesh was a multifaceted individual. His professional journey was marked by significant leadership roles:
- He established Fujairah Gold, a metals refinery in the United Arab Emirates.
- He served as the Chairman of Hindustan Zinc, a company acquired by Vedanta from the Indian government in 2002, from November 2005 to February 2019.
- At the time of his passing, he was the Chairman of Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL), a Vedanta subsidiary that operates a major thermal power plant in Punjab.
Remembering his son, Anil Agarwal highlighted that "beyond all titles and achievements, he remained simple, warm, and deeply human." He described Agnivesh as a sportsman, a musician, and a respected leader.
A Shared Vision for India's Future
In his tribute, Anil Agarwal also shed light on the shared social vision he held with his son. He stated that Agnivesh was a strong believer in a self-reliant India and would often question, "Papa, we lack nothing as a nation. Why should we ever be behind?"
Their collective dream was to work towards a nation where no child is hungry, every child is educated, every woman is empowered, and every youth has meaningful employment. Anil Agarwal reaffirmed a promise made to his son that more than 75% of their earnings would be dedicated to societal causes, underscoring a deep commitment to philanthropy.
The untimely death of the young industrialist has sent waves of grief through the business community and beyond, marking a profound loss for the Agarwal family and the Vedanta Group.
