India's first woman IFS officer: How C.B Muthamma opened doors for women diplomats

When India became independent, the civil services opened up to new talent. But one woman dared to step into a space that had been unofficially closed to her gender. Chonira Belliappa Muthamma, who joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1949, became the first woman diplomat of India and a defining figure in the fight for gender equality in government service.

A PIONEER FROM COORG

Born in 1924 in Kodagu (Coorg), Muthamma grew up surrounded by stories of courage from the Kodava community. She excelled academically and cracked the Central Services Examination at a time when very few women even attempted it. Her joining the IFS wasn’t just a personal achievement — it was a milestone for India.

‘PERMISSION’ TO MARRY AND OTHER BARRIERS

Even after she became a diplomat, Muthamma’s journey