Arya Samaj leader Swami Agnivesh dies at 84

NIRMAL YESODA

Arya Samaj leader Swami Agnivesh has died on September 11. The social activist was suffering from liver cirrhosis and was put on ventilator support since Tuesday at the Institute of Liver and Billary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi. He was 80.

 

According to a statement issued by ILBS, the health condition of Agnivesh deteriorated today, and he suffered a cardiac arrest at 6pm. Even though a team of healthcare professionals tried to resuscitate Agnivesh, he took his last breath at 6.30pm.

 

Agnivesh was born in a Brahmin family in Andhra Pradesh. Following his affinity towards sannyasa, he renounced his name and caste, religion, family, and all his belongings and properties.

 

Later, he entered politics and was elected to the Haryana Assembly in 1977 where he served as the education minister for two years. However, Agnivesh resigned from the post of the minister as a protest against the inhumane act of the Haryana police who opened fire at protesting labors.

 

In 2011, Swami Agnivesh joined hands with Anna Hazare in the anti-corruption movement. Agnivesh was later compelled to split from the group after a video became viral that showed the social activist talking to a minister from the UPA government.