Only wish is to spend my final days in India: 94-year-old gives up US citizenship after 26 years

Only wish is to spend my final days in India: 94-year-old gives up US citizenship after 26 years

Mangalore Today News Network

AP, Jun 27, 2026: At 94 years old, Andhra Pradesh-born Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma has given up her United States citizenship to fulfil her final wish of living the rest of her life as an Indian citizen.

Mahalakshmamma moved to the United States after the death of her husband to live with her son, Buchaiah Choudhary, who was working as an oncologist in Petersburg, Virginia. In 2000, she became a US citizen and lived there for nearly 18 years.

In 2018, she returned to India after her son started working at NRI Hospital in Mangalagiri. Since then, she has been living in her native state and has applied to become an Indian citizen again.

A video of Mahalakshmamma meeting government officials to speed up her citizenship application has gone viral online. She recently met Bapatla District Collector J. Venkata Murali, along with her son.

During the meeting, she said that she is nearing 95 years of age and wants to spend her remaining days in her motherland as an Indian citizen. She also said that she wishes for her last rites to be performed in her native village of Chinthagumpala in the Bapatla district.

Mahalakshmamma told officials that she has already given up her US citizenship and promised to follow India’s laws and respect the Constitution after her citizenship is restored. The district collector assured her that the application would be processed according to official procedures before being forwarded to the central government.

BIG NEWS 🚨 94-year-old Andhra woman gives up US citizenship.

"Collector garu, I am nearing 95 years of age"

"My only wish is to spend my final days in my motherland India" 🥹

"I want my last rites to be performed in my native village"

"Please help me obtain Indian… pic.twitter.com/D1CiTzYE8D

— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) June 26, 2026

The story sparked mixed reactions on social media. One user wrote, “The only reason she is fit to stand even at the age of 95 is because she lived in the US with clean air and unadulterated food." Another commented, “Why is she standing? She is 95, and the collector is showing his power. What kind of moron is he? Would he allow his own mother to stand? Indian babus forgot humanity after getting power."

Some users questioned the timing of her decision. One comment read, “What is big in this? The news is that only at the ripe old age of 95 did the lady decide to relinquish her US citizenship, and not before. And why? To die in India!" Another user wrote, “At the age of 94, she got the desire to return. Till then she had no desire or love for her homeland."

Others also raised questions about her contribution to the country. One comment stated, “What is her contribution for India? She enjoyed her whole life and now wants to die in India when de-dollarisation is going on in the USA. Now she will help her US children return to India after getting Indian citizenship. So well planned?"