Who is Kendragunta Mahalaxma? 94-year-old woman gives up her U.S. citizenship and wants to spend her last days in her “mother country, India”
A 94-year-old woman in Andhra Pradesh, India, has attracted widespread attention after she renounced her U.S. citizenship. Country of Citizenship She also asked the authorities to restore her Indian citizenship, expressing her wish to spend the rest of her life in the country of her birth.
Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma, who hails from Chinthugumpala village in Chinaganjam mandal of Bapatra district, recently approached the district officials with a heartfelt plea to expedite her citizenship application. A video documenting her interaction went viral on social media. Post on X says, ‘I want to die like an Indian’: 94-year-old gives up U.S. citizenship“.
Mahalakshmamma, accompanied by her son Buchiah Choudhary, met Bapatra district magistrate J. Venkata Murali on Wednesday and requested the authorities to speed up the process of restoring her Indian citizenship.
Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma received US citizenship in 2000
After the death of her husband, Nagabhushanam, Mahalakshmamma moved to Petersburg, Virginia, to live with her son, an oncologist. She obtained U.S. citizenship in July 2000 and lived in the United States for nearly 18 years before returning to India in 2018.
After her son joined the NRI hospital in Mangalagiri, she decided to settle down permanently in her hometown. After returning home, she has always expressed her desire to regain Indian citizenship and live out the rest of her life in her home country.
The 94-year-old woman told officials that she had renounced her U.S. citizenship and submitted an application for Indian citizenship through a government portal. She said her ultimate wish was to rest in peace in her hometown.
“Garu Collector, I am almost 95 years old. My only wish is to spend my last days in my motherland as a citizen of India. I want my last rites to be performed in my hometown. I have renounced my motherland.” U.S. citizenship. Please help me to get Indian citizenship at the earliest. ” she appealed.
Here’s what Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma told officials about her citizenship
She also assured the authorities that she would abide by the Indian Constitution and abide by all relevant laws if her citizenship is restored. She expressed her hope to gain legal recognition and live out the rest of her life as an Indian citizen.
The district collector told her that her application would be processed as per established procedures. Once the necessary investigations are completed, officials will prepare a report for the Andhra Pradesh government and then send its recommendations to the central government to take a decision on her citizenship application.
Netizen reaction
Meanwhile, some people have reacted to the woman’s viral video, with one
Many users criticized the woman’s move, with some asking her why she wanted to return to India after spending more than 20 years in the United States.
“I don’t agree…she left India for so many years and now she wants to come back? She shouldn’t actually be given…” commented another.
“When did collectors start granting citizenship. Grandma and her relatives are very aware of due process. You post just for likes and retweets,” a third user wrote.
