94-year-old US citizen wants to be Indian again to spend final years in Andhra Pradesh’s Bapatla district

Vijayawada: A 94-year-old woman, who gave up her Indian citizenship over two decades ago after becoming a US citizen, has appealed to the Centre to restore her citizenship so that she can spend her final years in her native village in Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh.In an emotional plea to Bapatla district collector V Vinod Kumar, Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma, from Chinthagumpala village of Chinnaganjam mandal, said she wished to live and pass away in India. “I am nearing 95. My only wish is to spend my final days in my motherland and have my last rites performed in my village,” she said in her plea.Mahalakshmamma moved to the US along with her son after her husband’s death and became a US citizen on July 27, 2000.

She returned to India in 2018 after her son, Dr K Pitchaiah, an oncologist, returned and joined the NRI Medical College in Guntur as director.Mahalakshmamma submitted an online application on June 1, seeking restoration of her Indian citizenship. During the inquiry, she affirmed her commitment to uphold the Constitution and laws of India.A video of her taking the oath of allegiance recently went viral on social media.

Officials clarified that the oath is a mandatory step in the citizenship process. It was administered on June 23 at the collectorate.As she has a hearing impairment and does not understand English, the oath was translated into Telugu. Her son read it out, and she repeated it before the collector. The collector said the application and documents have been forwarded to the Union ministry of home affairs, and the final decision now rests with the Centre.