Not a time for symbolism

From Apoorv Singhal, India
Everyone who believes that the English tour continuing would 'send a strong message to the terrorists' and 'express solidarity with the Indians' has to be complemented for such altruistic thoughts, even at a time when Indians themselves feel naked and vulnerable standing in a crowded marketplace. But there is a world beyond inspiring words. And you realize that when a man with a gun in your face asks for your nationality.

When the Test series takes place, I am sure each English player will get security worthy of our Prime Minister, but that is not the point. Players getting escorted to the bathroom by the National Security Guard and Collingwood dropping catches because he's thinking about his kids is not going to send a strong message to the terrorists. The country minus the politicians is in deep mourning at the moment for the lost lives, and in profound shock at the extent to which our security was breached by the terrorists. The whole security system has to be revamped, the investigations completed and substantial action taken before we can proclaim ourselves to be safe for outsiders. I guess the politicians are also in mourning, but for the seats they are due to vacate.

We Indians love our cricket. But we can't see poor English blokes coming here against their better judgment because they are getting a chance to play Test cricket for England in the event of big names opting out. Will the visiting English fans be given round the clock security, in the unlikely event that they come here to cheer their team? How can we, after an attack as horrendous as this, assume responsibility for the safety of foreigners, when we can no longer guarantee the safety of the locals? I am a little skeptical about the response I will get if I walk into a police station and ask for security because I feel unsafe.

India is unsafe at the moment. Five major attacks have taken place around the country this year - in Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Guwahati and now Mumbai. India has now become a convenient target for the terrorist groups, which can no longer immigrate militants to the western world that easily anymore. If there is a militant group, with sophisticated weaponry at its disposal, intent on finding a vulnerable point in a country as big as India, they will find it. Our establishment is not prepared for unprecedented attacks, and pretending otherwise to the outside world is only hurting us Indians in the end.

The game should be played in an atmosphere of joy and calm. Touring abroad is all about enjoying the foreign culture and playing the game with the players' minds on the game, not getting locked up in their hotels. Let us not reduce the sport to a torturous obligation for the players and their families. If a strong message has to be sent to the terror network, the authorities should once and for all stop being politically correct, extend their vocabulary beyond 'we strongly condemn the attack' and get down to business.

At this point in time, I shall refrain from speculating on the ongoing investigations and possible roots of this attack. When the Test series gets underway, the last thing anyone wants to see is empty stands. Charging the locals half their wages for a lone ticket will be a stamp on the unofficially accepted notion that the Indian cricketing authorities are woefully ignorant and illiterate as far as the understanding of the game is concerned. Let the gates be thrown open. Not literally, of course.