Debating the problem of colourism in Kerala’s progressive society
The Hindu
Chief Secretary of Kerala, Sarada Muraleedharan, sparks debate on colourism, beauty standards, and discrimination in Indian society.
“Heard an interesting comment yesterday on my stewardship as Chief Secretary — that it is as black as my husband’s was white. Hmmm. I need to own my blackness.”
This was posted by Sarada Muraleedharan, Chief Secretary of Kerala on her Facebook page on March 26. Sarada, who became the Chief Secretary in 2025 after her husband, Dr V Venu retired, took to social media to talk about colourism. “It was about being labelled black (with that quiet subtext of being a woman), as if that were something to be ashamed of,” she wrote.
Her note ignited a debate on the Indian obsession with complexion, ideas of aesthetics and beauty, and how it is manifest in discriminatory practices in professional spheres. It also evoked support from all walks of society, with many sharing personal incidents about their brush with colourism.
Explaining the reason for her post, Sarada says, “The first reason was to vent. The second was to convert this into a positive discourse centring on ‘black’. I had no idea this post would create so much traction. It started off as venting among friends on Facebook. I found that it resonated with many, going beyond my circle.”
Although she had deleted her brief note, after seeing the response it evoked, Sarada shared a longer one on how she had overcome her negativity about skin tone and complexion with her children’s help. The change in attitude helped her celebrate her skin.
Discrimination on the basis of skin tone seems to be gender agnostic. In 2024, classical dancer-choreographer RLV Ramakrishnan had been attacked by a senior female dancer who made disparaging remarks about his complexion. Recently, in an interview, danseuse Rajasree Warrier had discussed how unfair it was to expect dancers to be fair and adhere to certain conventional ideas of beauty.
The film industry and advertisements amplify the idea of colourism; it is rare to find myriad skin tones on screens.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy appoints K Sreenivasa Reddy to probe HCA-SRH pass dispute, assures SRH of support against blackmail.
Maharashtra Chief Devendra Fadnavis endorses NEP 2020 for Indianisation of education system, urging Sonia Gandhi's support.
Bidar MP Sagar Khandre criticizes lack of Deputy Speaker in Lok Sabha, highlighting disruptions and unfairness in parliamentary debates.
Id-ul-Fitr celebrated with joy and unity in Belagavi and Vijayapura, promoting communal harmony and social service.
Uttarakhand CM changes names of 18 places to honor Indian culture and heritage, respecting public sentiments.
India-U.S. Tiger Triumph HADR Exercise enhances interoperability for disaster relief operations, featuring joint training and medical aid initiatives.
Study in Tamil Nadu reveals families with disabled children spend six times their monthly income on caregiving and healthcare.
Muslims in Kalaburagi celebrate Id-ul-Fitr with prayers, new clothes, and communal harmony, sharing delicacies with friends of all faiths.
Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations in Dindigul, Theni, and Ramanathapuram districts with prayers, greetings, charity, and togetherness.
RSS reiterates no need to remove Aurangazeb's tomb; Maharashtra CM dismisses demands, warns against glorification, detains man for offensive comments.
New e-pass system in the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal limits tourist vehicles, prioritising sustainable fuels, causing concern and protests among locals
Kalamassery municipality uses abandoned vehicles as barriers to prevent illegal dumping of sewage along Seaport-Airport Road.
Government invites agencies to establish a Waste to Energy facility in Warangal and Karimnagar for sustainable waste management.