When Binu Varghese and Nijas Thamarasserry, lawyers at the Kerala High Court, planned a road trip this year, they did not want it to be just another drive across the country. “We wanted it to mean something — for us and for society,” says 58-year-old Binu over a phone call from Meghalaya, where they are currently travelling.
They call their journey the ‘Bharath Darshan Yatra – Phase 2’. In the first leg last year, they drove to Ladakh and back in 24 days covering 9,145 kilometres. This time, their mission is fuelled by a growing concern: the rise of drug abuse, especially among school and college students.
“Since January, Kerala has seen a surge in drug-related cases — across news and social media. The crimes are horrifying. And during our travels, which began on March 2, we realised this is a pan-India issue. Teachers and guardians everywhere are worried,” Binu explains.
Binu Varghese and Nijas Thamarasserry on the road. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Their road trip has doubled as an awareness campaign, where they conduct interactive sessions in schools, colleges and any public events they came across while on the road, highlighting the dangers of substance abuse. “We tell students that travel is an obsession worth having — something that brings real, enriching experiences. They don’t need to seek dangerous highs like drugs,” Binu says.
The duo speaks to students about how drugs can derail academics, relationships, and long-term goals. “We urge them to stay alert and report any known cases of drug use to their teachers,” adds Nijas.
As lawyers who often handle drug-related cases — mostly involving MDMA in Kerala — they have seen first-hand the damage it causes. “Turns out it’s not just a Kerala problem. It’s everywhere,” says Nijas.
Their campaign has received enthusiastic support from educational institutions. They approached some school directly and the others through local contacts. They received an enthusiastic response wherever they went. “At one school in West Bengal, we spoke to 100 students, and the administration immediately asked us to address another class,” Nijas shares.
Nijas at Ramathanga Government Higher Secondary School in Cooch Bihar, West Bengal | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Depending on the region, they have conducted sessions in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, and English, with translators provided where needed. Their route so far has taken them through Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, and Meghalaya. They plan to cover the rest of the Northeast — Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Mizoram — before heading to Sikkim, Nepal, and Bhutan.
In every state, they inform students and educators about the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which has zonal offices across India, and share helpline numbers and the NCB pledge to encourage reporting. “Many don’t even know these resources exist,” Binu says.
Both Binu (from Thrissur) and Nijas (from Kozhikode) are classmates from Karnataka State Law University, Bengaluru. Binu, a teetotaller, even has a signboard outside his home that forbids alcohol, drugs, and weapons. “People laughed at me once, but look at where we are now,” he remarks.
They are travelling in Binu’s jeep, sleeping either in the vehicle or at petrol pumps, and plan to stay on the road for another month.
Asked why they chose to turn a potential holiday into a demanding campaign, they say: “It’s our social responsibility as lawyers. There’s nothing in it for us — but we believe in contributing meaningfully. If we don’t act now, drug abuse will become an epidemic.”
Published - March 28, 2025 11:27 am IST
