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Legendary Educationist and Industrialist Dr. N. Vinaya Hegde Passes Away at 86

By Editor

Posted on January 1, 2026

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Legendary Educationist and Industrialist Dr. N. Vinaya Hegde Passes Away at 86

Mangaluru : The academic and industrial world is in mourning following the peaceful passing of Sri N. Vinaya Hegde, the Chancellor of Nitte University, on Thursday morning. A distinguished industrialist, prominent philanthropist, and visionary educationist, Dr. Hegde was 86 years old. To allow the public, well-wishers, and the academic community to pay their last respects, his mortal remains will be kept for public viewing at his residence, “Sadanand” in Shivbhag, Mangaluru, until 3:00 PM today, followed by a viewing at the Nitte campus from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM.

Born on April 3, 1939, Sri Vinaya Hegde was the second son of the late Justice K.S. Hegde, a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and Mrs. Meenakshi Hegde. After completing his early education at St. Aloysius College in Mangaluru and earning a BSc from St. Joseph’s College in Bengaluru, he briefly worked at Canara Workshops Ltd. before embarking on his own entrepreneurial journey. In 1975, he founded Lamina Suspension Products Ltd., an enterprise that would eventually become a symbol of excellence in the automobile component industry.

Dr. Hegde’s greatest legacy lies in his transformative impact on education in Dakshina Kannada. In 1979, he established the Nitte Education Trust with the goal of empowering the youth and bringing world-class learning to rural areas. Over the past 45 years, this initiative has grown into a massive network of 44 institutions, including Nitte (Deemed to be University). These institutions span three campuses in Nitte, Mangaluru, and Bengaluru, covering everything from primary schools to professional colleges in medicine, engineering, dentistry, and management.

Beyond his professional success, Dr. Hegde was a man of profound social conscience. He utilized his wealth for the greater good, personally supervising numerous rural upliftment projects. His philanthropic efforts included the operation of 24 rural hospitals, providing financial support to underprivileged students, and championing projects for women’s empowerment. His leadership was characterized by humility and a steadfast commitment to the welfare of the common man.

In recognition of his monumental contributions, Dr. Hegde was honored with several prestigious awards, including the Udyoga Pathra Award, the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Award, and an Honorary Doctorate from Mangalore University. He is survived by his wife Sujata, daughter Ashwita R. Punja, and son Vishal Hegde. His passing marks the end of a significant era, but his imprint on industry and education remains an enduring inspiration.