The coastal city of Mangaluru and the wider educational community are in mourning following the demise of noted educationist, philanthropist, and visionary N. Vinaya Hegde. He passed away on Thursday at the age of 87. Tributes poured in from colleagues across academia, healthcare, and social sectors, honouring a life wholly dedicated to service, equity, and building the nation.
From Industry Titan to Social Architect
Born in 1939 to Meenakshi Hegde and the distinguished jurist and parliamentarian Justice K. S. Hegde, Vinaya Hegde was instilled with a profound sense of public duty from a young age. After forging a successful career in industry, most notably as the founder of the Lamina Group of Companies which provided livelihoods for thousands, he made a pivotal decision. He chose to redirect his life's mission entirely towards societal service, embarking on a transformative journey focused on education, healthcare, and rural development.
The Nitte Legacy: Education as a Tool for Change
In 1979, honouring his parents' wishes, Hegde established the Nitte Education Trust. Driven by the belief that education and health are the most potent catalysts for social change, he started with a single Kannada-medium school in a remote village lacking formal education. This humble beginning blossomed into one of the region's most extensive educational ecosystems. Today, the Trust oversees 43 institutions, spanning schools, professional colleges, and hospitals, catering to over 29,000 students and employing more than 5,500 staff.
A cornerstone of Hegde's philosophy was an integrated model linking education, healthcare, and rural upliftment. The Justice K. S. Hegde Charitable Hospital, supported by 23 rural health centres, delivers free and affordable medical care to underserved communities across Karnataka and northern Kerala. Landmark initiatives include comprehensive programmes for cleft palate surgeries, geriatric care, community mental health, and disability rehabilitation, all provided with compassion and dignity.
A Vision for Inclusive Nation-Building
Under his steadfast leadership, Nitte (Deemed to be University) was established in 2008 with a clear social mandate. Four of its constituent colleges are highly ranked in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). Hegde's commitment to national integration was powerfully demonstrated through his work with youth from India's North Eastern states. The NAMASTE Centre for North Eastern Studies, founded in 2016, facilitates free education, residential care, and cultural exchange. Each year, fully sponsored seats are offered to deserving students from the region across all university programmes, with support extending to underprivileged children from Meghalaya from primary school through graduation.
He championed research with a purpose, establishing advanced centres in neuroscience, regenerative medicine, cancer, genetics, and environmental health to tackle real-world problems. Beyond academics, he was a pioneer in promoting holistic development—advocating for sports, sanitation, rural education, and community participation long before these became nationwide movements. His guiding principle, "every person is equal," was a lived truth that defined his decades of selfless work.
The mortal remains were kept for public homage at his residence, Sadanand in Shivbhag, until 3 pm, and later at the Nitte Campus between 4:30 pm and 6 pm.
