Above / Centenarian celebrates 105th birthday with family, friends and an officer of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. (Photo courtesy Jug Uppal Family)
August 2021 has been a landmark month for Vidya Uppal, a resident of Naperville since 2006.
On August 18, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States and two days later, on August 20, she celebrated her 105th birthday with family, a few friends and an officer of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The officer presented her with her naturalization document.
“What an honor it is to be here,” said David Dann, Supervisory Immigration Services Officer in the Citizenship Section at ISCIS. “Thank you for allowing us to share in this momentous day. Vidya, what a life you have lived. What wonders your eyes have seen! It was a different world that you were born into 105 years ago, a subject of the British Raj; then you became an ‘Indian National, British subject, and citizen of the Commonwealth.’”
Dann continued, “Today we’re so very proud to welcome you into our American family as a United States Citizen… with all the rights, protections and benefits that citizenship brings. Congratulations!”
Certainly a truly remarkable achievement and historic timeline, Vidya Uppal has lived through two world wars and two pandemics as well as under three very different governments.
Born in British-ruled India, the partition of India in 1947 forced her to flee the land of her birth and settle in the independent India where she lived until the death of her husband.
Uppal’s family observed the ceremony as she proudly waved the U.S. flag while the officer proclaimed her as a Citizen of the United States.
Smiling as she enjoyed her birthday cake, her eyes grew misty as her family and friends touched her feet, a traditional gesture of respect.
“This double celebration was covered by ABC and broadcast on its WLS station three times!” said her daughter-in-law, Madhu Uppal.
When asked for the secret to the centenarian’s reaching the age of 105, her family believes it’s because she has always lived a very disciplined life with an unshakeable faith in her religious beliefs.
“A devout Hindu, Vidya spends majority of her waking hours reading religious texts,” noted Madhu Uppal. “Before a broken hip four years ago led to loss of mobility, my mother-in-law used to regularly attend area Hindu temples and sing hymns at religious services whenever she got the chance.”
On a final note, Madhu Uppal added, “It has been an absolutely delightful experience!”
Submitted report and photos courtesy of Madhu and Jug Uppal.
