Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 1: Nitte University chancellor and renowned educationist, industrialist and philanthropist N Vinaya Hegde passed away peacefully on Thursday morning. He was 86.
His mortal remains will be kept for public viewing at his residence ‘Sadanand’ in Shivbhag, Mangaluru, from 8.30 am to 3 pm on Thursday, following which they will be taken to the Nitte campus, where the public, well-wishers and members of the academic fraternity can pay their last respects between 4.30 pm and 6 pm.
A visionary leader, Vinaya Hegde played a pivotal role in transforming large parts of Dakshina Kannada into major education hubs by establishing institutions across engineering, medical, management and allied disciplines. His contributions to higher education have left a lasting imprint on the region and beyond.
Born on April 3, 1939, he was the second son of late Justice K S Hegde, former judge of the Supreme Court of India and former speaker of the Lok Sabha, and late Meenakshi Hegde of Nitte village. He completed his early education at St Aloysius College, Mangaluru, and later obtained a BSc degree from St Joseph’s College, Bengaluru. After a brief stint at Canara Workshops Ltd, he ventured into entrepreneurship and founded Lamina Suspension Products Ltd in 1975, marking the beginning of his industrial journey.
In 1979, driven by a strong belief in the power of education, he established the Nitte Education Trust. Over the last 45 years, it has grown into one of the largest educational organisations in Dakshina Kannada. Today, Nitte University and its allied institutions encompass 22 establishments spanning schools, pre-university and degree colleges, polytechnics, and professional institutions including engineering, medical, dental, pharmaceutical, nursing and hotel management, spread across campuses at Nitte, Mangaluru and Bengaluru.
Beyond education and industry, Vinaya Hegde was deeply committed to social welfare and rural development. He personally supervised several upliftment initiatives, including the operation of 24 rural hospitals, financial assistance to economically weaker students and programmes focused on women’s empowerment.
In recognition of his contributions, he received several honours, including the Udyoga Pathra Award from the Institute of Trade and Industrial Development, New Delhi, the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Award, the Outstanding Manager Award for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, and the Best Public Relations Person Award. He was also conferred an honorary doctorate by Mangalore University.
He is survived by his wife Sujata, daughter Ashwita R Punja and son Vishal Hegde. His demise marks the end of an era in the fields of education and social service in coastal Karnataka, and he will be remembered for his leadership, humility and enduring legacy.