Kerala CS calls out colourism

In a social media post that drew widespread support and triggered a debate around colour-based discrimination, Kerala Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan on Wednesday called out colourism saying “black was gorgeous”.

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Reflecting her 50 years endurance of being judged because she had a certain complexion, Muraleedharan also attacked social media critics for constantly comparing her with her predecessor and husband V Venu.

“Heard an interesting comment yesterday on my stewardship as Chief Secretary – that it is as black as my husband’s was white,” the opening line of her Facebook post.

She said she needed to own her blackness and was hurt by a relentless parade of comparisons with her predecessor over the last seven months.

“It was about being labelled black (with that quiet sub text of being woman), as if that were something to be desperately ashamed of. Black is as black does. Not just black the colour, but black the ne’er do good, black the malaise, the cold despotism, the heart of darkness,” she said.

Muraleedharan asked why black should be vilified. “Black is 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 luster of evening wear, the essence of kajol, the promise of rain,” she said recalling how as a four-year-old she asked her mother whether she could put her back in her womb and bring her out again, all white and pretty.

“I have lived for over 50 years buried under that narrative of not being a colour that was good enough. And buying into that narrative. Of not seeing beauty or value in black. Of being fascinated by fair skin. And fair minds, and all that was fair and good and wholesome. And of feeling that I was a lesser person for not being that - which had to be compensated somehow,” said the top Kerala bureaucrat with her post being liked by Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly VD Satheesan.

She said it was her children who gloried in their black heritage and found beauty where she noticed none.