New Delhi: Billionaire industrialist and Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal has announced that he will give away more than 75 per cent of his personal wealth for social causes, renewing a long-held commitment after the sudden passing of his son, Agnivesh, in the United States.
Agnivesh, aged 49, died of a cardiac arrest while recovering from injuries sustained in a skiing accident. He was undergoing treatment at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, where his condition was reported to be stable before the sudden medical emergency.
In an emotional post on social media platform X, Agarwal reflected on his son’s deep belief in a self-reliant India and said the tragedy had strengthened his resolve to dedicate the bulk of his wealth to public welfare. Recalling conversations with his son, Agarwal said Agnivesh often spoke about India’s inherent strengths and questioned why the country should ever lag behind.
“I had promised Agni that more than 75 per cent of whatever we earn would be returned to society. Today, I renew that promise and choose to live even more simply,” Agarwal wrote, underlining their shared vision of eliminating hunger, ensuring education for every child, empowering women, and creating meaningful employment for India’s youth.
Describing the loss as the darkest moment of his life, Agarwal said no words could capture the pain of a parent losing a child. He noted that Agnivesh was healthy, full of energy and aspirations, and that the family believed he was out of danger after the accident. “We thought the worst was over, but fate had other plans,” he said.
Anil Agarwal is the founder and chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited and also leads the Anil Agarwal Foundation, which drives the group’s philanthropic work across education, healthcare, women empowerment and livelihood generation. He said his son’s ideals would continue to guide his personal and philanthropic journey.
