Ruth Nirmala Gnanakan was an inspiring educator and the beloved younger sister of Dr. Ken Gnanakan, founder of ACTS. Her life was dedicated to the upliftment of children, and her legacy continues through the schools built in her memory—Nirmala Niketan in Kolkata and ACTS Nirmala Vidyalaya in Bangalore.

Nirmala began her journey in education at Bishop Cottons School in Bangalore, later serving at Timpany Schools in Vizag, and finally as Principal at Calcutta Girls' High School. It was during her tenure in Kolkata that she was diagnosed with liver cancer. Despite this, she continued to live her life with unwavering commitment to her ideals, focusing on her passion for educating underprivileged children.

In the few months she had left, Nirmala's spirit and dedication to service never wavered. She chose to donate her entire savings to the construction of a school for underprivileged children in Bangalore. This school, ACTS Nirmala Vidyalaya, now stands as a tribute to her selfless work and her vision of providing quality education to those who need it most.

Nirmala passed away at the age of 50, but her influence lives on through the lives of the children she helped, and through the schools that continue to uphold her values of education, compassion, and service to the underprivileged. Her life was short, but her impact was profound, leaving a lasting legacy of hope and transformation.