"Chonira Belliappa Muthamma: A Pioneer"

In a time when women in India were often regarded as the second gender, Chonira Belliappa Muthamma emerged as a trailblazer who made the nation proud. She etched her name in history as India’s first woman IFS Officer and Ambassador/High Commissioner, achieving a feat that shattered gender barriers.

C.B. Muthamma’s remarkable journey began in 1948 when she became the first woman to successfully clear the Indian Civil Service examination. Her aspiration was to join the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), but during her interview, the board discouraged her, deeming it “unsuitable for women.” Undeterred, Muthamma persevered, and in 1949, she proudly assumed her role as the first woman IFS officer.

However, her path was far from smooth. She had to sign an undertaking that stipulated her resignation if she chose to marry, a stark reminder of the prevailing gender biases. Many ambassadors rejected her due to their prejudices against women colleagues. Nevertheless, she pressed on, eventually joining the Indian Embassy in Paris.

In 1979, Muthamma took a bold step by filing a petition in the Supreme Court against the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Her goal was to challenge the injustice of being overlooked for promotion to Grade 1, the highest level of Secretary to the Government of India, solely because of her gender. The Ministry eventually granted her the promotion, hoping to quell the case.

The landmark case, presided over by Justice VR Krishna Iyer, highlighted the imperative of eradicating gender discrimination in the service sector. Born on January 24, 1924, in Karnataka, C.B. Muthamma’s upbringing coincided with India’s freedom struggle. Her mother, driven by a commitment to education, ensured Muthamma received the best schooling and pursued her Master’s in English literature.

Following her retirement, C.B. Muthamma continued to make significant contributions by becoming an Indian member of the Independent Commission on Disarmament and Security Issues. She left a lasting legacy, passing away on October 14, 2009, as a symbol of resilience and determination in the face of gender-based challenges.

Re-reported from the article originally published in News18