Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], March 26 (ANI): Kerala Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan on Wednesday boldly addressed a comment made about her skin complexion, turning a potentially hurtful remark into a powerful statement on self-acceptance and empowerment.

The comment, made in a seemingly humorous tone, implied that her administration was 'black' and therefore inferior. However, Muraleedharan refused to let the remark slide, instead choosing to confront the underlying biases and value judgments that perpetuate such attitudes.

'I think it's high time for me not to feel defensive about either the fact that I am a woman or that I am dark. It's time that I own both of these and that I come out strongly. By my coming out strongly, maybe it will help those people who are going through similar feelings of insecurity and inadequacy, to feel that we are worth it and we don't need external validation...,' said Muraleedharan while speaking with ANI.

Muraleedharan's words are not just a personal statement, but also a call to action for those who have faced similar struggles with self-acceptance and external validation. By owning her identity and refusing to apologize for who she is, Muraleedharan is inspiring others to do the same.

As a seasoned IAS officer and the first woman to hold the position of Kerala Chief Secretary, Muraleedharan is no stranger to breaking barriers and challenging the status quo. Her response to the comment is a testament to her strength and conviction, as she asserts that being dark-skinned is not something to be ashamed of, but rather something to be celebrated.

'...It was a comment that was made perhaps from a sense of humour. But the thing is, behind the humour, there is an entire value connotation and that value connotation is that the kind of administration that I do is black and the connotation is that because it is black, it is not good, and there was something wrong with it...What is wrong about black? Isn't it more a perception than a reality? It is important to claim blackness as something which is worthwhile and beautiful...,' she said.

Muraleedharan, who succeeded her husband as the Chief Secretary of the state, shared a Facebook post on Tuesday, sharing a recent incident she faced in the office. 'Heard an interesting comment yesterday on my stewardship as chief secretary - that it is as black as my husband's was white,' she said in the post.

Speaking about the incident with ANI, Muraleedharan called out the cultural construct of associating the colour 'black' with something that is not good and pressed on the need to challenge such constructs.

'I don't think me being the Chief Secrertary has anything to do with it, It is because I'm a woman and I'm dark. It's a reality of my life. I think it's high time for me not to feel defensive about either the fact that I am a woman or that I am dark. It's time that I own both of these and that I come out strongly. By my coming out strongly, maybe it will help those people who are going through similar feelings of insecurity and inadequacy to feel that we are worth it and we don't need external validation. I need to validate myself,' she said.

She further added that these particular standards of beauty are 'problematic', adding that beauty is not a single thing.

'The very fact looking for a particular standard of beauty is problematic because ultimately beauty is not a single thing, it's multiple things. We should all enjoy every kind of beauty,' she said. (ANI)