94-Year-Old NRI Woman Seeks Indian Citizenship to Fulfill Final Wish
A 94-year-old NRI woman, Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma, has applied for Indian citizenship to spend her remaining years in her native village of Chinthagumpala. Having lived in the US for 18 years, she is now navigating the official process to ensure her final rites take place at home.
Highlights
- •94-year-old Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma has formally applied for Indian citizenship to spend her final years in her native Chinthagumpala village.
- •The elderly woman previously held US citizenship for 18 years after moving to Virginia following the death of her husband.
- •She returned to India in 2018 and has already relinquished her US citizenship as part of her transition.
- •The Bapatla District Collector confirmed that the citizenship request is currently being processed through the standard legal and administrative inquiry channels.
In a deeply moving development, a 94-year-old NRI woman has officially initiated the process to regain Indian citizenship. Driven by a profound desire to spend her final years in her birthplace and ensure her last rites are performed in her ancestral home, the elderly woman has sought intervention from local authorities.
Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma, a native of Chinthagumpala village located in the Chinaganjam mandal of Bapatla district, recently made a personal appeal to the district administration. She formally appeared before the Bapatla District Collector, J. Venkata Murali, on Wednesday to request that her application for citizenship be processed promptly.
A Long Journey Home
The life journey of Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma is a testament to the enduring bond one has with their homeland. After the passing of her husband, Nagabhushanam, she relocated to Petersburg, Virginia, in the United States to reside with her son, Buchaiah Choudhary, who served as an oncologist. She successfully obtained US citizenship in July 2000 and spent nearly 18 years living abroad.
However, the pull of her roots remained strong. In 2018, she made the decision to return to India, eventually settling back in her native village after her son accepted a position at the NRI Hospital in Mangalagiri. Having officially relinquished her US citizenship, she has now filed the necessary documentation through the government's online portal to reclaim her status as an Indian citizen.
Administrative Process for Indian Citizenship
Explaining her motivation to the officials, she expressed that her primary objective is to live out the remainder of her life on native soil and receive her final rites within the familiar surroundings of Chinthagumpala village. The plea of the 94-year-old NRI woman has garnered significant attention, reflecting the deep-seated cultural importance of homecoming for many non-resident Indians.
In response to the emotional request, District Collector J. Venkata Murali confirmed that her application would be handled according to established legal protocols. The administrative process entails a thorough inquiry, the findings of which will be compiled into a report and submitted to the state government. Subsequently, the state government will forward its recommendation to the central authorities for a final determination regarding her Indian citizenship application. The authorities are committed to ensuring the procedure is followed diligently to honor her wish.
