Of what hides behind Bob Marley motifs

Students of various schools and colleges in the State have developed a sudden affinity for Bob Marley, the late Jamaican singer.

Many sport a portrait on their bags, t-shirts, and hats. It appears to be a fashion statement at first, but is much more than that and hence a cause of concern, says civil excise officers from Alappuzha M.K. Sreekumar and C. Sunil Kumar.

The duo are manning a stall of the Excise Department near stage II of the ongoing 55th State School Arts Festival here.

The stall features posters, paintings, and photographs — all on the ill-effects of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol.

“As popular as Marley are the colours of the Jamaican flag and pictures of ganja leaves on accessories. Many youngsters wear a rosary with red, green, yellow, and black colours. Many do not know the implications. It is a symbol by which traffickers recognise their counterparts. Ironically, 99 per cent of those who wear these are unaware of it. For them, it is ‘cool’ and ‘freakish.’ Some even mistake Marley for Che Guevara,” says Mr. Sreekumar. The officer received the State government’s award in 2013 for taking up anti-drug campaigns voluntarily.

He started the campaign in 2011 with Mr. Sunil Kumar. They are regulars at arts festival venues. “Festival venues are the best places for such campaigns as the children are most vulnerable to the drug mafia,” Mr. Sunil Kumar said.