94-Year-Old NRI Woman Seeks Indian Citizenship to Fulfil Her Final Wish

A 94-year-old NRI woman, Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma, has appealed to the Bapatla District Collector to expedite her Indian citizenship application so that she can spend her final days in her native village and be laid to rest in her homeland. Originally from Chintagumpala village in Chinaganjam mandal, Mahalakshmamma moved to the United States after the death of her husband and lived with her son, noted cancer specialist Dr. Buchaiah Chowdary, in Petersburg, Virginia. She became a U.S. citizen in July 2000 but returned to her native village with her family in 2018.

Having voluntarily relinquished her U.S. citizenship, Mahalakshmamma has applied online to regain Indian citizenship under the provisions of Indian law. During an official inquiry, she assured the District Collector that she would uphold the Constitution of India and abide by its laws. Responding to her request, Collector Vinod Kumar said the inquiry would be completed and a report forwarded to the State Government, which would then be sent to the Central Government for further action on her citizenship application.