{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Yearning for Her Motherland: 94-Year-Old Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma Renounces US Citizenship to Die in India",
  "summary": "Elderly Andhra Pradesh native Mahalakshmamma has given up her American passport after 26 years, appealing to the Indian government to grant her citizenship so she can spend her final days in her ancestral village.",
  "content": "The pull of one's native soil often grows stronger in the evening of life. In a deeply poignant event emerging from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, 94-year-old Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma has relinquished her United States citizenship to return permanently to her birthplace. Hailing from Chintagumpala village in Bapatla district, the nonagenarian has appealed to the Central Government of India to restore her Indian citizenship so she can live out her remaining days surrounded by familiar surroundings in her ancestral village.\n\nLeaving Overseas Comforts to Return to Her Roots\nMahalakshmamma's journey abroad began approximately 26 years ago following the demise of her husband. She moved to the United States to live with her son and eventually acquired American citizenship in the year 2000. However, the trajectory changed in 2018 when her son, Dr. Pichhaiah, an oncologist, decided to relocate to Guntur to practice medicine. Driven by a deep desire to be near her family and homeland, Mahalakshmamma returned to India alongside her son and settled back in her native village.\n\nTearful Moments at the District Collectorate\nApproaching her 95th birthday, Mahalakshmamma formally initiated the legal process by submitting an online application for Indian citizenship on June 1. As part of the statutory requirements, she was called to the District Collectorate office for the oath-taking formality. During the proceeding, she broke down in tears while pleading her case before local authorities. Expressing her emotional plea, Mahalakshmamma stated, \"My final wish is to take my last breath in my motherland and have my last rites performed in my village.\" She confirmed that she has already renounced her US citizenship and is anxiously waiting to become an Indian national once again.\n\nApplication Sent to Ministry of Home Affairs\nFootage of the elderly woman tearfully expressing her last wish went viral online, evoking overwhelming sympathy from the public, with many urging the authorities to expedite her request on humanitarian grounds. Addressing the situation, the District Collector noted that all necessary documentation and application details have been processed and forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs. As matters concerning dual citizenship and naturalization rest strictly within the domain of the Union Government, the final authorization will be determined by the central ministry.\n\nWhat this means for you\nAcross India: Highlights the administrative procedures and Ministry of Home Affairs framework for former Indian nationals seeking to reclaim citizenship after relinquishing foreign passports.\n\nIn Andhra Pradesh: Draws focus to local administration and district collectorates in Bapatla and Vijayawada handling citizenship oath-taking and humanitarian requests.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. How old is Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma and where is she from?\nKondragunta Mahalakshmamma is 94 years old and belongs to Chintagumpala village in Bapatla district, Andhra Pradesh.\n\n2. When did Mahalakshmamma acquire US citizenship and why did she return to India?\nShe acquired US citizenship in the year 2000. She returned to India in 2018 when her son, Dr. Pichhaiah, relocated to Guntur to work as an oncologist.\n\n3. When did she submit her online application for Indian citizenship?\nShe submitted her online application to reclaim Indian citizenship on June 1.\n\n4. Who holds the authority to approve her citizenship application?\nThe District Collector stated that her documents have been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, meaning the final decision rests with the Central Government of India.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/andhra-pradesh/apani-matribhumi-lautane-ki-tarapa-94-sala-ki-kondragunta-mahalakshmamma-ne-chhori-ameriki-nagarikata-bharata-sarakara-se-lagai-gu-14674",
  "category": "Andhra Pradesh",
  "publishedAt": "2026-08-07",
  "tags": [
    "Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma",
    "Indian Citizenship",
    "Andhra Pradesh",
    "Bapatla",
    "Ministry of Home Affairs",
    "Vijayawada",
    "US Citizenship"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}