N Vinaya Hegde, chancellor of Nitte (Deemed-to-be University), died in Mangaluru in the early hours of 1 January 2026. He was 86. A known figure in education, industry and philanthropy, he is survived by his wife Sujatha Hegde, son Vishal Hegde and daughter Ashwita Poonja.
N Vinaya Hegde obituary and lasting legacy
Born in 1939 to the late Justice K S Hegde and Meenakshi Hegde, Vinaya Hegde forged a distinct career that combined entrepreneurship with a deep commitment to social development. Guided by the belief that education and healthcare are the most effective instruments of social change, he founded the Nitte Education Trust in 1979. What began as a modest Kannada-medium school in a remote village evolved over decades into one of the region’s broadest educational ecosystems.
Under his leadership the Trust expanded to run 43 institutions, from primary schools to professional colleges and hospitals, serving more than 29,000 students and employing over 5,500 staff. Nitte (Deemed-to-be University) was established in 2008, consolidating the Trust’s academic offerings and granting it increased autonomy to develop professional programmes across disciplines.
Hegde’s work extended beyond mainstream education. In 2016 he established the NAMASTE Centre for North Eastern Studies to strengthen national integration and social equity. The Centre provides fully sponsored seats and residential care for deserving students from India’s North East, and supports underprivileged children from Meghalaya through primary education to graduation. These initiatives reflected his long-standing commitment to widening access to quality education.
Industry leadership and regional development
As Group Chairman of the Lamina Group of Industries, Hegde oversaw companies that employ more than 2,000 people and achieve an export turnover in excess of ₹100 crore, with markets in Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Korea, Finland and Belgium. Lamina Suspension Products Ltd, founded in 1976, remains the group’s flagship manufacturer of automobile leaf springs.
His influence also reached national institutions and regional planning. Hegde served as chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK). He led the Coastal Agenda Task Force which helped advance the proposal for a Special Economic Zone in the region, a project that has since become a reality and contributed to local economic growth.
Alongside his business and educational pursuits he promoted sport and community activity. In 1984, under the aegis of the Lamina Group, he organised national sports competitions in the district headquarters — an initiative that helped galvanise local sporting interest and provided a platform for athletes in the region.
Friends and colleagues remember Vinaya Hegde as a technocrat who combined practical business sense with philanthropy and a focus on social uplift. His death marks the end of a long chapter in the region’s educational and industrial development, and his institutions will continue to serve thousands of students and staff who benefitted from his vision.
Published 1 January 2026.
Key Takeaways:
- N Vinaya Hegde obituary: The Nitte chancellor died in Mangaluru on 1 January 2026, aged 86.
- Founded Nitte Education Trust in 1979; Trust now runs 43 institutions serving over 29,000 students.
- Led Lamina Group, chaired NITK board and promoted regional development and sports.
- Established NAMASTE Centre offering sponsored education and support to North East students.
