When Nakshatra R. Gola was thrown out of her home for being transgender, she had no roof over her head, no support system and no certainty about the future. Forced to survive on the streets of Bengaluru, she experienced hunger, rejection and loneliness at an age when most people depend on their families for love and protection.
But instead of allowing bitterness to shape her life, Nakshatra transformed her pain into a mission of compassion.
Today, she is affectionately known as “Amma” to more than 100 abandoned senior citizens, orphaned children and people with disabilities who have found a home in Nammane Summane, the Bengaluru-based NGO she founded.
The name Nammane Summane translates to “Our Home, Simply” in Kannada. True to its name, it functions as a family rather than just a shelter. Residents receive nutritious meals, medical care, clothing and a safe place to live. Children are enrolled in school, while elderly residents and persons with disabilities are looked after with dignity and affection.
Nakshatra’s own experience of being abandoned gave her a deep understanding of what it means to have nowhere to go. She often says that no one should be left to suffer simply because their family or society has rejected them.
Her humanitarian work has continued despite immense personal challenges. Nakshatra has been battling Stage 3 blood cancer, yet she remains actively involved in running the home, coordinating donations, caring for residents and ensuring their daily needs are met.
Over the years, Nammane Summane has grown into a lifeline for people who have been abandoned because of old age, disability, poverty or social stigma. The organisation survives largely through public donations and the efforts of volunteers, making community support vital to its work.
Nakshatra’s journey is also significant for what it represents.
At a time when many transgender persons in India continue to face discrimination in education, employment and housing, she has emerged as a social entrepreneur and caregiver, breaking stereotypes through service rather than words.
Her story is a reminder that compassion has the power to heal wounds that society often creates—and that one person’s kindness can become a home for hundreds.
