A 94-year-old Indian woman, Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma, has gone viral after relinquishing  her United States of America citizenship to regain her Indian citizenship in a bid to fulfil one of her final wishes on earth.

Reports noted that Ms Mahalakshmamma acquired U.S. citizenship in 2000 after she moved to the North American country to live with her oncologist son Buchaiah Choudhary following the death of her husband, Nagabhushanam.

Under Indian laws, dual citizenship is prohibited, with nationals of the Asian country, who voluntarily gain another country’s citizenship generally losing their Indian nationality automatically. 

According to the Times of India, Ms Mahalakshmamma returned to India in 2018 after living in the United States of America for 18 and has now applied to regain her Indian citizenship, stating her wish is to die as an Indian. 

A video of the nonagenarian, accompanied by her son, pleading with Bapatla District Collector Venkata Murali at the district office to restore her citizenship without delay has since been widely shared on social media.

“Collector garu, I am nearing 95 years of age. My only wish is to spend my final days in my motherland as an Indian citizen. I want my last rites to be performed in my native village. I have already given up my US citizenship. Please help me obtain Indian citizenship at the earliest,” Ms Mahalakshmamma was quoted as saying.

She informed officials that she already renounced her American citizenship and applied for Indian citizenship online.

In response to the plea, Mr Murali assured Ms Mahalakshmamma that her application would be processed in accordance with the prescribed procedures before a report is forwarded to the government, which will determine whether she is eligible to be considered for citizenship.

Meanwhile, Ms Mahalakshmamma’s wish to die as an Indian citizen has divided opinion online, with some netizens supporting her decision while others questioned why she made the decision.

“Why are our country’s people always stupid and full of arrogance!! Anyone can leave and come back to India as they wish. Just sit and judge and then they wonder why nobody likes them,” Instagram user @abhishekksriv commented in support of the woman. 

Another user @elkasinha also sided her, stating, “Great to do that. Life as an elderly is very isolated in western countries. India is the best for inclusive social life, health and spiritual life. She will definitely be more active and useful here.”

On the opposing side, @deshi_tour0108 stated, “First take all the benefits of living outside and at 94 when it’s difficult and expensive to live there, come back to India to rest in peace, how did she know that she will live till 94 why she did not do this before?”

The user added, “I welcome her coming back but don’t say you came here for love of country.”

Another user @decca506 satirically wrote “Yes, yes, living in India is difficult…dying here is easier. Smart lady to make it seem patriotic and get in the media.”

@im_shakeeb07 claimed she only returned to India because of the cost of healthcare in the United States of America.

“At the age of 94 she remembered desh bhakti because in USA healthcare and funeral cost is too expensive now son decided to dump her in India to avoid spending dollars,” he stated.