I am Dr. Kiran Nayak a 38-year-old Banjara tribal trans man from Warangal, Telangana, living with 75% polio disability and a wheelchair user since the age of three. I come from a Below Poverty Line (BPL) Dalit–Adivasi Banjara background, and my life journey has been defined by resilience in the face of deep structural exclusions based on caste, disability, gender identity, and poverty.

I grew up in Hanuman Thanda, a small village in Telangana, immersed in the rich Banjara culture. At 12, I began identifying as male, despite being assigned female at birth. At 18, I migrated to Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, where I faced further struggles related to my gender identity, disability, and societal stigma. Today, I continue to live and work in Karnataka, building a life of dignity while working for the rights of marginalized communities.

Community Work & Advocacy

Despite severe barriers, I have dedicated my life to grassroots activism, focusing on disability rights, transgender rights, sanitation, and access to basic needs like safe drinking water. The COVID-19 pandemic deepened vulnerabilities for disabled and transgender communities, but I worked tirelessly to mobilize and distribute relief aid to those most disenfranchised.