Kerala’s Chief Secretary, Sarada Muraleedharan, has openly condemned the discrimination she faced based on her skin color and gender, after a comment was made comparing her tenure to that of her predecessor, her husband, V Venu. Muraleedharan shared the hurtful remark in a recent social media post, where she was described as having a “black” tenure, in contrast to her husband’s “white” tenure. This comparison was made based on the color of her skin, a deeply troubling comment that prompted her to speak out.

Muraleedharan, who assumed the post in August 2024 after Venu’s retirement, used her social media platform to question the prejudiced undertones behind such remarks. She expressed how the comment reflected the harmful societal narrative that associates value and beauty with fair skin, while suggesting that darker skin should be something to be ashamed of.

In her post, she shared the emotional burden of having lived over 50 years under the weight of color-based discrimination. “I have lived for over 50 years buried under that narrative of not being a color that was good enough,” she wrote. “And buying into that narrative… of feeling that I was a lesser person for not being that (fair).”

The chief secretary highlighted how society’s obsession with fair skin has deep-seated impacts, especially on women, and lamented the deeply ingrained nature of these discriminatory biases. She made it clear that despite facing relentless comparisons to her husband, she was compelled to address this comment, not only because it hurt but because it exemplified the toxic ways in which colorism still thrives in contemporary society.

Muraleedharan said she was particularly shocked by the use of the words “black” and “white” in this context, especially as it was used to undermine her work. “Comparisons with my husband are common, but to do that using black and white was disturbing,” she stated. Muraleedharan’s post on Facebook emphasized that it was crucial to challenge the harmful use of color as a tool for demeaning others’ self-worth, urging people to embrace and take pride in their natural color.

While the name of the person who made the comment has not been disclosed, Muraleedharan’s message was clear: discrimination in any form must be resisted. She urged people to rise above such narrow-minded thinking and accept themselves and others for who they are, regardless of skin color.

Kerala’s General Education Minister, V. Sivankutty, expressed his solidarity with Muraleedharan, underscoring that skin color discrimination has no place in a progressive society. He lauded her leadership and stressed the need for a more inclusive environment where individuals are judged by their contributions, not their appearance.

Excise and Local Self-Government Minister MB Rajesh also condemned the incident, calling it a sign of the deep-rooted prejudices still afflicting Kerala’s society. Similarly, CPI(M) Lok Sabha MP K. Radhakrishnan and Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan, shared Muraleedharan’s post and expressed their support for her stance against color-based discrimination.

This incident has sparked a wider conversation about the persistence of caste and color prejudices in society, even in modern times, and the urgent need for change.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sarada Muraleedharan has spoken out about facing color and gender-based discrimination after a comment compared her to her husband.
  • She emphasized the harmful impact of society’s preference for fair skin and the importance of rejecting such prejudices.
  • Kerala’s leaders have rallied behind her, condemning the incident and reinforcing the need for inclusivity and respect for diversity.

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