New Delhi, Sept. 11 -- Arya Samaj leader and a renowned social activist Swami Agnivesh breathed his last onFriday evening. The 80-year-old 'secular swami' was on the ventilator and succumbed to multiple-organ failure at New Delhi's Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences.

"His condition deterioratedtodayand he went into cardiac arrest at6:00 PM. Resuscitation was attempted but the stalwart passed away at6:30 PM," read a statement by the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences.

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 asannyasin(hermit).

Agnivesh was widely known for his campaign against bonded labour through his fou...