Terror, Terror Everywhere!

The attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan got me worrying. It exposed a new face of terror unseen until now and it left me wondering as to how long it was until it foraged through the frontiers of our peace- loving Chennai!

Srilanka and Pakistan have a political affinity that dates back to several years. Nevertheless it is difficult to understand what prompted SL to indulge in this ‘dare’ of sending their team to visit Pakistan when England and India have categorically refused and, when several other cricketing nations were wondering why they should also not refuse! After all the situation in Pakistan is so volatile that it could put Mt. Vesuvius to shame!!

The politically -motivated move proved too costly for the SL cricketers who, by a strange twist of providence, managed to escape in one piece. But they are a shattered lot, despite the absence of grave injuries, and it will be awhile before they recuperate and talk/play cricket. It is a possibility that some in the team would suffer from ‘post traumatic stress disorder’ a condition that has the ability to impact the victim both physically and psychologically.

The attack has left India struggling to come to terms with the situation. Words of bravado and right-on –the –face bureaucratic exchanges cannot replace whole- hearted measures to counter terror at our doorstep.

The terror attack has brought the game to a grinding halt in Pakistan .But the saga continues unabated on various TV channels. On the day the cricketers were attacked some channels repeatedly showed terror footages all through the day…..an action that would depress even the most cheerful among viewers. I wonder why these channels use the same method that is used in the terror camps…..brain washing!

As a nation whose people collectively suffer from amnesia in general, and indifference –prompted complacence in particular, and whose limpid expressions of protests revolve around pink ‘chaddis’, this is perhaps the only way to ensure that we don’t forget what could be in store!