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.
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.
