Agnivesh Agarwal, son of Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal, passed away at the age of 49 after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest in New York, the industrialist confirmed in a statement on Wednesday. His death comes as a shock to the family and the wider business community, especially as his recovery from a recent accident had been progressing well.
Agnivesh had sustained injuries in a skiing accident in the United States and was admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. According to the family, his condition had been stable and improving, with doctors expressing optimism, before his health deteriorated unexpectedly.
“Today is the darkest day of my life. My beloved son, Agnivesh, left us far too soon. He was just 49 years old, healthy, full of life, and dreams. Following a skiing accident in the US, he was recovering well in Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. We believed the worst was behind us. But fate had other plans, and a sudden cardiac arrest snatched our son away from us,” Agarwal wrote in a post on X.
A life shaped by leadership and enterprise
Born in Patna on June 3, 1976, Agnivesh Agarwal was educated at Mayo College in Ajmer and went on to carve out a notable professional journey. He played a key role in setting up Fujeirah Gold and later served as Chairman of Hindustan Zinc, where he earned respect for his leadership and business acumen.
Remembering his son, Anil Agarwal described him as much more than a successful professional. He spoke of Agnivesh’s passion for sports and music, his humility, and his compassion for people around him.
“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 business tycoon said.
Family grief
The Vedanta chairman said the family has been left shattered by the loss, referring to his wife Kiran and himself in his message.
“Kiran and I are broken,” he wrote.
Agarwal also recalled his son’s deep belief in India’s future and their shared vision of social responsibility. He said the tragedy has strengthened his resolve to give back more to society, renewing a pledge he had made to his son.
“We shared a dream to ensure that no child sleeps hungry, no child is denied education, every woman stands on her own feet, and every young Indian has meaningful work. I had promised Agni that more than 75% of what we earn would be given back to society. Today, I renew that promise and resolve to live an even simpler life,” the industry leader wrote.
In the end, Agarwal expressed his struggle to come to terms with the loss and his determination to carry forward his son’s values.
“Beta, you will live on in our hearts, in our work and in every life you touched,” Agarwal wrote. “I do not know how to walk this path without you, but I will try carrying your light forward.”