#memory
#history
C. B. Muthamma
– A Pioneer.
Chonira Belliappa Muthamma (1924-2009) was the first woman to pass the Civil Services examinations of the UPSC in 1948.
She became the first woman to join the Indian Foreign Service in 1949 and became the first Indian woman diplomat. After serving in London, Rangoon, Paris, Pakistan etc she became the first Indian woman to become an Ambassador as Ambassador to Hungary in 1970.
Muthamma was born in Virajpet,Kodagu and passed her degree with triple gold medal from the Women’s Christian College Chennai. She obtained her MA in English literature from Presidency College Chennai before joining the civil services.
Sadly she had been made to sign an undertaking that she would resign from her job if she got married.
She approached the Supreme Court when she was denied promotion as Foreign Secretary.
The Ministry promptly promoted her, hoping that the Supreme Court would dismiss the case. Her case was upheld by a three-member Bench headed by Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer which emphasised “the need to overhaul all service rules to remove the stains of sex discrimination.
The landmark Supreme Court Judgement ensured that henceforth it was not mandatory for women officers in the IFS to seek government permission for getting married.
Muthamma retired in 1982 after 32 years of illustrious service.
Her autobiography “Slain by the System” was published in 2003.
After retirement, she was appointed a member of the international ‘Independent Commission on Disarmament and Security Issues’ set up by the Swedish Prime Minister, Olof Palme.
She was a great philanthropist and donated 15 acres of valuable land in Delhi to Mother Teresa’s Sisters of Charity.
She died aged 85 in Bangalore in 2009.
– Joy Kallivayalil.
