Framing the narrative: leadership, bias, and the ethics of speaking out

Research methodology This case was developed by using secondary data sourced from publicly available news reports, interviews and Sarada Muraleedharan’s original Facebook post. All quotes are from verified sources, such as The Indian Express, NDTV and India Today. No disguised information is used. Case overview/synopsis This teaching case focuses on Sarada Muraleedharan, the Chief Secretary of India’s southernmost state, Kerala, who responded to a racially loaded comment comparing her leadership to her predecessor and husband by referring to her skin tone. In a viral social media post, Muraleedharan reflected on her lifelong experiences with colourism and gender bias, sparking national media attention and public debate. She highlighted the prejudice against women, especially those with darker skin tones, and emphasised the pressing need for social reform. As the state’s top civil servant, she now faces a pivotal leadership dilemma of whether to step back from the controversy and resume a neutral stance or use her voice and visibility to advocate societal change. Complexity academic level This case is intended for use in postgraduate and executive education settings, although it is also suitable for upper-level undergraduate courses in communication, public administration and leadership. It is also relevant to courses such as strategic leadership communication, ethics in governance, gender and diversity in management, public policy, media and society.