'I Dig Black': Kerala Chief Secy Sarada Muraleedharan Speaks Out Against Colour Bias In Viral FB Post

In a candid Facebook post, Muraleedharan shared her reaction to a comment that described her tenure as chief secretary as “black” while calling her husband’s tenure “white".

Muraleedharan also shared a personal anecdote, recalling how, as a child, she once asked her mother if she could be reborn with fair skin.

Source : Facebook

Kerala Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan has sparked an important conversation on colour bias with her recent social media post where she responded to a remark comparing her leadership to that of her predecessor—who also happens to be her husband—based on skin tone.

In a candid Facebook post, Muraleedharan shared her reaction to a comment that described her tenure as chief secretary as “black” while calling her husband’s tenure “white.” Initially deleting the post after an overwhelming response, she later reposted it, asserting that the issue needed to be addressed.

Reflecting on the deeper implications of such remarks, she wrote: “It was about being labelled black (with that quiet subtext of being a woman), as if that were something to be desperately ashamed of.” She further questioned why black is often vilified, emphasising its significance, strength, and beauty.

She said: "But why should black be vilified? Black is the all pervasive truth of the universe. Black is that which can absorb anything, the most powerful pulse of energy known to humankind. It is the colour that works on everyone, the dress code for office, the lustre of evening wear, the essence of kajol, the promise of rain."

Muraleedharan also shared a personal anecdote, recalling how, as a child, she once asked her mother if she could be reborn with fair skin. Over the years, she internalised societal notions that equated fairness with beauty and worth—until her own children helped her see black in a new light. “They gloried in their black heritage...They thought black was awesome. They helped me see,” she wrote.

Her post, which resonated widely, concluded with a powerful affirmation: “That black is beautiful. That black is gorgeousness. That I dig black.”

Muraleedharan, a 1990-batch IAS officer, took over as Kerala’s chief secretary on August 31, 2024, following the retirement of V Venu. Before assuming the role, she served as additional chief secretary for planning and economic affairs.