Source: The post Sarada Muraleedharan’s post challenges colour bias has been created, based on the article “In India, labour needs as much focus as capital” published in “Indian Express” on 1 April 2025. Sarada Muraleedharan’s post questions colour bias in India.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper1-Society
Context: A Facebook post by Kerala’s Chief Secretary, Sarada Muraleedharan, responding to a disparaging comment on her skin colour, has sparked public reflection on colour-based prejudice in India. Drawing parallels with Rammanohar Lohia’s 1960 essay, the article explores the deep-rooted social, cultural, and political dimensions of colourism and the ongoing resistance against it.
Importance of Sarada Muraleedharan’s Facebook post
- Personal Experience: Sarada Muraleedharan shared her childhood memory of wanting to be reborn fair-skinned, which highlights lifelong struggles with skin color discrimination.
- Public Resonance: Her post reflects the experiences of countless Indians facing similar biases, making it a moment of collective identification and solidarity.
- Courage and Privilege: By openly embracing her skin color with the statement “I dig black,” she utilized her public platform and privilege to challenge societal norms.
- Cultural Impact: The post sparked a broader conversation about deep-rooted prejudices within Indian society, resonating with historical critiques like Lohia’s essay on beauty standards and power.
How is colourism rooted in Indian culture and markets?
1. Cultural Portrayals: Indian cinema often glorifies fair skin as a synonym for beauty, referring to fair women as gori.
- Literary Language: Literature stigmatizes dark skin with derogatory terms like kali-kaluti.
- Market Influence: The Indian skin-care market, predominantly featuring skin-whiteners, is substantial, valued at Rs 35,000–40,000 crore. It grows annually by 6%.
- Matrimonial Preferences: Matrimonial advertisements frequently specify a preference for fair skin, highlighting societal biases.
- Protest Symbols: Negative connotations of black are evident in terms like “black laws” during protests, showing how deeply ingrained such biases are in language and societal attitudes.
Rammanohar Lohia challenge colour-based beauty standards
- Lohia’s 1960 essay ‘Skin Colour and Beauty’ critiqued the link between fairness and beauty.
- He said beauty standards are shaped by power, not nature. If Black people ruled the world, darker features would be admired.
- Lohia argued that aesthetic judgments are political, and what is seen as beautiful reflects the values of those in control.
- He called for an “aesthetic revolution”, which he believed could be as transformative as any political or economic revolution.
Way forward
- Celebrate Diversity: Embrace all skin tones. Muraleedharan’s phrase “I dig black” reclaims black as strong and beautiful.
- Cultural Campaigns: Support efforts like Nandita Das’s “Dark Is Beautiful”, which aim to change public attitudes.
- Educational Efforts: Share personal stories and ideas like Lohia’s to expose how beauty ideals are constructed.
- Media Representation: Challenge advertisements and shows that promote fair skin as the standard.
- Market Influence: Encourage inclusive marketing that respects all skin tones and moves away from fairness-focused messaging.
Question for practice:
Examine how Sarada Muraleedharan’s Facebook post highlights the issue of colourism in Indian society and connects with historical and cultural critiques like Rammanohar Lohia’s essay.
