India, Feb. 9 -- 84 year-old writer-photographer Pepita Seth, who was born in the UK, officially became an Indian citizen on 6 February 2026. Thrissur District Collector Arjun Pandian handed over the citizenship document to Pepita Seth at the district collectorate office in Kerala on Friday. Reacting to the moment, Seth said she felt "immensely proud" to become an Indian, adding that India had long been her true home.

Pepita Seth is affectionately known by different names across India. Among the Theyyam communities of Kannur and at the Guruvayur temples, she is called "Aana Amma," meaning elephant mother in Malayalam. She is also widely described as Kerala's "adopted daughter."

Her journey in India unfolded gradually. Seth first visited...