In an age when most Indian women didn’t even try getting into foreign service, Chonira Belliappa Muthamma didn’t just choose IFS on qualifying UPSC; she fought gender bias, stood her ground and went on to become India’s first female ambassador.
Raised singlehandedly by her mother, Muthamma was a triple gold medalist during her school days. In 1948, after her post-graduation, she performed brilliantly in the UPSC exams and became the first Indian woman to clear it. She wanted to join the Indian Foreign Service(IFS), but the board that interviewed her discouraged her from joining this ‘unsuitable for women’ service.
However, Muthamma was determined to get her choice of service and convincingly argued her case, stood her ground, and joined the foreign assistance in 1949, becoming India’s first IFS woman officer. But, she had to sign an undertaking stating that she would resign if she married. However, after a couple of years, the rules were changed.
For the next few decades, the lady served with distinction in many capacities in Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, she had to fight against gender bias throughout her diplomatic career. Despite operating in the foreign service for a long, her case was overlooked when posting her as an ambassador.
Not the one to accept any injustice lying down, Muthamma filed a petition in the Supreme Court on the ground that she had been unjustly overlooked for promotion. The determined and stubbornly honest officer argued that the rules governing women’s employment in the service were discriminatory.
Finally, in 1979 Muthamma’s case was upheld, and a landmark judgment was made for women’s rights in India. She was posted as India’s Ambassador to Hungary, the first woman from within the service to be appointed.
After 32 years of exemplary service, Muthamma retired from the IFS in 1982, breaking the glass ceiling for women who joined the IFS after her.
