Who is Precious Ramotswe from The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and what is their importance?

Mma Ramotswe (Precious) is the novel's central character, a well-rounded individual in every sense of the word - she takes quiet pride in being "traditionally built" - that is to say, fat. Interestingly, she is also quite non-traditional, in that she is quite independent, making her own way without relying on, and/or submitting to the will of, men. This is not to say that she rejects men altogether - she enjoys the friendship of some, often calls on them for assistance, and when necessary is compassionate towards them when they are in trouble. At the same time, she has no illusions about how selfish, childish, and irresponsible they can be, even those she considers her friends. Ultimately, her sensitivity to both aspects of the male character can be seen as a manifestation of two of her core characteristics, traits that makes her both an effective detective and an engaging character - her capacity for compassion and perspective, and her commitment to truth and justice. Both these aspects of her identity (which, as the narrative makes very clear, are connected to, and/or arise from, the difficulties she's experienced in her own life) lead her to care deeply for people in general and for the troubled people who come to her for help in particular. There is the sense that the intensity of here caring leads her to do whatever is necessary to resolve the conflicts in which friends and clients find themselves. She is not above telling the occasional lie in the service of getting to a greater truth, but her fundamental honesty with herself and with others, about herself and about the world, makes her an investigatory force to be reckoned with, as well as a good friend and, in more technical terms, a very engaging protagonist.