Media Release
Mangaluru, Jan 1: Nitte (Deemed to be University) has expressed profound grief over the demise of its chancellor Sri N Vinaya Hegde, an eminent educationist, philanthropist and visionary social reformer, who passed away on Thursday, January 1. He was 86.
In an obituary issued by the University, Sri Vinaya Hegde was remembered as a life devoted to service, equity and nation-building, whose contributions spanned education, healthcare, rural development and community empowerment.
Born in 1939 to Meenakshi Hegde and the late Justice K S Hegde, former judge of the Supreme Court of India and former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Vinaya Hegde imbibed a strong sense of public duty from an early age. After a successful career in industry as the founder of the Lamina Group of Companies, which provided employment to thousands, he chose to dedicate his life to social service.
In 1979, in accordance with the wishes of his parents, he founded the Nitte Education Trust with the belief that education and healthcare are the most powerful instruments of social change. What began as a small Kannada-medium school in a remote village has grown into a vast educational network. Today, the Trust runs 43 institutions, including schools, professional colleges and hospitals, catering to over 29,000 students and employing more than 5,500 staff, many of whom serve rural and economically disadvantaged communities.
A key aspect of his work was the integrated model of education, healthcare and rural development. The Justice K S Hegde Charitable Hospital and 23 rural health centres continue to provide affordable and free healthcare to underserved populations across Karnataka and northern Kerala. Several community-focused initiatives, including cleft palate surgeries, geriatric care, mental health services and disability rehabilitation, were implemented under his guidance.
Under his leadership, Nitte (Deemed to be University) was established in 2008 with a clear social mandate. The University has since earned NAAC A+ accreditation, secured a NIRF rank of 80, been listed in QS Asia rankings and featured in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, while maintaining a strong focus on community engagement and sustainability.
Sri Vinaya Hegde also played a significant role in promoting national integration through initiatives supporting students from the North Eastern states. The NAMASTE Centre for North Eastern Studies, established in 2016, provides free education, residential facilities and cultural support to deserving students from the region.
Remembered for his humility, simplicity and unwavering commitment to equality, Sri Vinaya Hegde leaves behind a lasting legacy through the institutions he built and the countless lives he touched. The University community has pledged to carry forward his vision and values in the years ahead.