Sarada Muraleedharan’s post questions colour bias in India

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

1. Personal Experience: Sarada Muraleedharan shared her childhood memory of wanting to be reborn fair-skinned, which highlights lifelong struggles with skin color discrimination.
2. Public Resonance: Her post reflects the experiences of countless Indians facing similar biases, making it a moment of collective identification and solidarity.
3. 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.
4. 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.

2. Literary Language: Literature stigmatizes dark skin with derogatory terms like kali-kaluti.
3. 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%.
4. Matrimonial Preferences: Matrimonial advertisements frequently specify a preference for fair skin, highlighting societal biases.
5. 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

1. Lohia’s 1960 essay ‘Skin Colour and Beauty’ critiqued the link between fairness and beauty.
2. He said beauty standards are shaped by power, not nature. If Black people ruled the world, darker features would be admired.
3. Lohia argued that aesthetic judgments are political, and what is seen as beautiful reflects the values of those in control.
4. He called for an “aesthetic revolution”, which he believed could be as transformative as any political or economic revolution.

Way forward

1. Celebrate Diversity: Embrace all skin tones. Muraleedharan’s phrase “I dig black” reclaims black as strong and beautiful.
2. Cultural Campaigns: Support efforts like Nandita Das’s “Dark Is Beautiful”, which aim to change public attitudes.
3. Educational Efforts: Share personal stories and ideas like Lohia’s to expose how beauty ideals are constructed.
4. Media Representation: Challenge advertisements and shows that promote fair skin as the standard.
5. 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.