https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Who Is IAS Sarada Muraleedharan, Who Speaks Out Against Color Bias in Powerful Facebook Post

Addressing the "black is bad" stereotype, Muraleedharan eloquently explained how black is both essential and beautiful, describing it as the "all-pervasive truth of the universe."
Indian Masterminds Stories

Kerala Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan stirred a significant social media debate with her powerful post on Facebook addressing color bias and the vilification of “black.” In her post, Muraleedharan spoke candidly about her experiences with self-esteem and discrimination related to her dark complexion, recalling how she struggled with the perception that her skin color made her less valuable for much of her life.

Who Is She?

Muraleedharan is a distinguished 1990-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre who currently serves as the Chief Secretary of Kerala, a position she took over from her husband, Dr. V Venu, in September 2024. Throughout her illustrious career, Muraleedharan has held various significant positions, including heading the Kudumbashree Mission, a key initiative for women’s empowerment and poverty alleviation in Kerala.

Read Also: Meet the Powerful Couple: Sarada Muraleedharan Appointed Kerala’s New Chief Secretary, Succeeding Husband V Venu

She has also served as the Chief Operating Officer of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission and held prominent roles in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Directorate of Social Welfare, and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). With her extensive experience in administration, rural development, and social welfare, Muraleedharan has played a vital role in advancing the welfare of marginalized communities and promoting citizen participation in governance.

Known for her insightful leadership, she has now become an advocate for self-empowerment and breaking societal norms around beauty and self-worth, as seen in her recent viral post about embracing her dark skin.

The Color Bias Debate

In her post, she revealed how a comment comparing her role as Chief Secretary to her husband’s, noting that her leadership was “as black as my husband’s was white,” deeply hurt her. The comment led her to reflect on why the color black is so often vilified, despite its pervasive presence and power.

Addressing the “black is bad” stereotype, Muraleedharan eloquently explained how black is both essential and beautiful, describing it as the “all-pervasive truth of the universe.” She pointed out how black absorbs all light, serves as an energy source, and remains timeless and elegant in all forms – whether it’s in fashion or in the world itself.

Reflecting on her childhood, Muraleedharan recalled asking her mother as a young girl if she could be reborn with lighter skin, embodying the societal preference for fairness. Over time, however, it was her children who helped her see the beauty in her own dark skin. She wrote how they celebrated their “black heritage,” which encouraged her to embrace and take pride in her complexion, ultimately changing her perception of herself.

In a heartfelt moment, Muraleedharan shared how her children taught her that “black is beautiful,” a sentiment she now fully embraces. She pointed out that the vilification of black not only affects her but impacts society as a whole, noting that skin color should not define worth or beauty.

Muraleedharan’s post has garnered over 1,000 reactions, comments, and re-shares, with many expressing support for her courageous stance. Kerala Leader of Opposition, VD Satheesan, also shared her post, saluting her for her honesty and for initiating an important discussion on colorism.

Her post has sparked conversations on gender and racial bias, urging people to rethink societal standards of beauty and embrace all shades of skin as equal and beautiful.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
SECI
Centre Terminates SECI CMD Rameshwar Prasad Gupta's Services Ahead of Tenure Completion
Cheetah-resized
5 Cheetahs from Kuno Sanctuary Roam into Shivpuri Villages, Hunt Sheep, Draw Attention
Indian Railways
IRSE Officer Qazi Mairaj Ahmad Appointed as Senior Professor at IRITM in HAG Grade, Know More About Him
Indian Statistical Service ISS
ISS Officer Deepesh Gehlot Re-designated as Director-Level Joint Commissioner in Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Know More About Him
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
10 Trainee IAS Officers Visit Odisha H&UD Department to Gain Insights on Urban Governance
Screenshot 2025-05-10 201440
India Reaffirms Vigilance and Readiness as Ceasefire with Pakistan Takes Effect, Check Cmde. Raghu R. Nair's Briefing
IRS Officers ndian revenue Services
IRS Ashwani Kumar Appointed as DCIT (OSD) in Principal CCIT Office, Delhi
MCLConclave
MCL Hosts 10th “Working Together Conclave” in Puri, Reinforces Collaborative Spirit for Organisational Excellence
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge’s Two Decades of Service in Nagaland
IMG-20250429-WA0019
How Mission IAS is Transforming Dreams of Underprivileged UPSC Aspirants
Aakash Garg
Computer Engineer Aakash Garg Takes AIR-5 in UPSC CSE 2024 Through Sheer Discipline And Hard Work | Exclusive
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
iqbal-ahmad-upsc-2024
From Cycle Repair Shop to UPSC Rank 998: UP's Iqabal Ahmad’s Inspiring Journey Against All Odds
Iqbal Ahmad, son of a handyman from Sant Kabir Nagar, secured 998th rank in UPSC 2024, fulfilling his...
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge’s Two Decades of Service in Nagaland
For over 20 years, IPS officer Sandeep Tamgadge has served Nagaland, navigating its unique cultural landscape...
Shubham Kaurav UPSC
Four Attempts, One Dream: How Shubham Kaurav Cracked UPSC CSE with AIR 291
With determination, self-study, and a strategic mindset, Gwalior’s Shubham Kaurav turned years of hard...
Social Media
IAS Nishant Kumar yadav
Chandigarh Youths Respond En Masse to Civil Defence Call Amid India-Pakistan Tensions; Video Sparks Patriotic Fervor - Full Details Inside
The Chandigarh Administration, led by the Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, an IAS officer of...
Fakenews
Be Aware: Fake Videos and Propaganda Cloud Public Discourse After India’s Cross-Border Strike
In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, numerous false and doctored videos claiming to show the strikes...
Indore Road Safety Campaign by Air Hostesses
The Cleanest of India, Indore, Launches Inclusive Road Safety Campaign Featuring Air Hostesses - Know More!
In a unique civic initiative, Indore Traffic Police deployed air hostesses using sign language at key...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
SECI
Centre Terminates SECI CMD Rameshwar Prasad Gupta's Services Ahead of Tenure Completion
Cheetah-resized
5 Cheetahs from Kuno Sanctuary Roam into Shivpuri Villages, Hunt Sheep, Draw Attention
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge
IMG-20250429-WA0019
Aakash Garg
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT