C. B. Muthamma

Chonira Belliappa Muthamma (24 January 1924 – 14 October 2009) was the first woman to clear the Indian Civil Services examinations. She was also the first woman to join the Indian Foreign Service. She was the first Indian woman diplomat as well. Later, she became the first Indian woman Ambassador (or High Commissioner) also. She is remembered for her successful crusade for gender equality in the Indian Civil Services.

Early life Chonira Belliappa Muthamma was born on 24 January 1924 in Virajpet in Coorg. Her father, who was a forest officer, died when she was nine years old. Muthamma's mother committed herself to the cause of getting the best education her four children. Muthamma completed her schooling in St.Joseph's Girls School in Madikeri, and graduated from the Women's Christian College, Chennai (Madras at that point) with a triple gold medal. She then attained a Master of Arts degree in English Literature from Presidency College. Muthamma became the first woman to join the Indian Civil Services by clearing the UPSC examination in 1948. She finished at the top of the list of candidates who has applied for the Indian Foreign Service that year and went on to join the service in 1949. Muthamma had to take the Ministry of External Affairs to court when she was denied promotion to Grade I of the service on grounds of "merit".

Other notable works After retirement, she became the Indian member of the Independent Commission on Disarmament and Security Issues set up by the then Swedish Prime Minister, Olof Palme. Her last major published work was a collection of essays titled Slain by the System published in 2003 by Viveka Foundation.

Muthamma was also a passionate environmentalist and a culinary enthusiast as well. She had also co-authored a book on Kodava cuisine called 'The Essential Kodava Cookbook'. The week she died she signed a cheque for a library in Gonikoppal High School and for a business management college building in Virajpet in her native place. The manuscript she wrote on her mother as a tribute she owed for all her achievements was ready to be published posthumously.