94-Year-Old Andhra Woman Regains Indian Citizenship

A 94-year-old woman from Andhra Pradesh has formally regained her Indian citizenship after renouncing her United States citizenship, fulfilling her stated wish to die as a citizen of her homeland. Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma, a native of Chinthagumpala village in Bapatla district, was officially presented with her restored citizenship documents in a ceremony at the Bapatla Collectorate on June 25, 2026.

Mahalakshmamma moved to Petersburg, Virginia, in July 2000 to live with her son, oncologist Dr. Buchaiah Choudhary, following the death of her husband, Nagabhushanam. She acquired U.S. citizenship and lived there for nearly 18 years before returning to India in 2018 when her son took a position at the NRI Hospital in Mangalagiri. She had since been residing in her native village under Overseas Citizen of India status.

Her desire to formally return to Indian citizenship grew stronger with age. Accompanied by her son, she met with Bapatla District Collector J. Venkata Murali on June 25, making an emotional appeal for an expedited process. She explained that her only wish was to spend her final days in her motherland as an Indian citizen and to have her last rites performed in her...