India's first woman ambassador CB Muthamma passes away

BANGALORE: C.B. Muthamma (85), the first woman Ambassador of Independent India and the first woman Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, died in a private hospital here yesterday following a brief illness. Last rites were performed at Wilson Garden crematorium yesterday.

Chonira Belliappa Muthamma, a spinster, was born on Jan. 24, 1924, in Haisodlur village, Virajpet, Kodagu. Her father was a DFO in the district.

She had her primary and high school education in Gonikoppal. After completing her collegiate education in Bangalore, Muthamma passed the IFS, thus earning the distinction of becoming the first woman to pass IFS.

After serving in various countries from 1949 to 1982, Muthamma led a retired life in her brother C.B. Kariappa's residence in Indiranagar, Bangalore.

Muthamma had served as Ambassador and High Commissioner to a number of countries during her career that started in 1949. She had fought against gender bias in the foreign service and had taken the Indian government to court in 1979 for bypassing her for the coveted Foreign Secretary's post.

Though the Supreme Court dismissed the petition, it noted that there was truth in Muthamma's contention that there was gender discrimination in the foreign office.

Muthamma brought out the essays she had written over the years in the form of a book titled 'Slain by the System - India's Real Crisis.' It was published in 2003. She wrote in the book: "Looking back, I cannot help but conclude that my tenure with the External Affairs Ministry was one long tussle with the anti-women bias." She had also co-authored a book on Kodava cuisine.

(Image and text: Star of Mysore)