Arya Samaj leader Swami Agnivesh passes away at 80

Former Haryana MLA and Arya Samaj leader Swami Agnivesh, who was hospitalised due to liver cirrhosis and was in a critical condition, died at the age of 80 in New Delhi. He was involved in various areas of social activism including campaigns against female foeticide and the emancipation of women.

New Delhi: Arya Samaj leader, Swami Agnivesh on Friday breathed his last at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in New Delhi.

He was 80-year-old.

The social activist was admitted to the ILBS on Tuesday and has been on a ventilator since then.

"He was suffering from liver cirrhosis and died today due to multi-organ failure as his condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest at 6 pm," a spokesperson of the hospital said.

Resuscitation was attempted but he passed away at 6:30 pm, he added.

Born to a Brahmin couple in Andhra Pradesh, Swami Agnivesh renounced his name and caste, religion, family, and all his belongings and property to lead the life of a sannyasin.

He was widely known for his campaign against bonded labour through his foundation Bandhua Mukti Morcha (Bonded Labor Liberation Front). His public work spurred him to enter active politics.

He was elected to the Haryana Assembly in 1977 and was made education minister after two years. He, however, resigned from the post in protest against the Haryana government’s inaction against police who had opened fire at workers protesting bonded labour.

He was also an advocate for dialogue between religions.

Agnivesh was also the president of World Council of Arya Samaj till 2014.

Agnivesh was involved in various areas of social activism including campaigns against female foeticide and the emancipation of women.

He was a prominent associate of Anna Hazare during India Against Corruption's campaign in 2011 to implement the Jan Lokpal Bill.

(with inputs from agencies)