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.
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.
[3][4] She began her political career by joining the Travancore State Congress in 1938, influenced by her elder sister Accamma Cherian.
[1][5] Accamma Cherian was also an independence activist, and both sisters were imprisoned at Central Prison, Poojappura by the British in 1939.
Besides which, Rosamma's family supported the Indian National Congress, and objected to her marrying a communist.
As with all Christian weddings between communist couples, at the time, the two were married at a church in Cochin with a special letter of consent from the Pope.
[4] Rosamma died on 28 December 2013 in Salalah, Oman where she was living with her son Thomas Punnoose.