Rosamma Punnoose

Rosamma Punnoose (12 May 1913 – 28 December 2013) was an Indian independence activist, politician and lawyer. She was the first person to be sworn in as a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. She was also the first MLA in India to lose her seat following a court order, and the first person to be elected in the first-ever by-election to the assembly in 1958. Punnoose was also the first pro tem Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly.

Early life Rosamma was born in Kanjirappally, Travancore on 12 May 1913 to a Catholic family, the fourth child of Kanjirapally Karippaparambil Thomman Cheriyan and Payippadu Punnakkudi Annamma.

She graduated with a degree in law from the Madras Law College.

Career She began her political career by joining the Travancore State Congress in 1938, influenced by her elder sister Accamma Cherian. Her husband had been elected to the Lok Sabha in the 1952 general election, and retained his seat in the 1957 general election, marking a rare occurrence of an elected husband and wife in Kerala politics. Rosamma was the first person to be sworn in as a member of the Assembly.

She also served as the president of Kerala Mahila Sangham (1969–83), chairperson of the Plantation Corporation (1964–69), head of the Housing Board (1975–78), and was a member of the Rubber Board for 10 years. She was the chairperson of the Kerala Women's Commission from 1993 until 1998, when she retired.

Death Rosamma died on 28 December 2013 in Salalah, Oman where she was living with her son Thomas Punnoose. Her only other child, Geetha Jacob, resided in Abu Dhabi. Her body was brought to her home in Pamala near Tiruvalla, and the funeral was held on 30 December 2013 at Sehiyon Mar Thoma Church, in Varikkad near Tiruvalla.