One-Way Trip to Mars
When I heard that Reginald Foulds (Reggie), a Canadian citizen and an ex-pilot of Pakistan Army, has been selected for a tour of Mars, I was overjoyed and wanted to congratulate him on his success for being among the first few people who would embark upon an unparalleled historical journey. But then, when I came to know that it was going to be a one-way trip, I was very sad and did not know how to convey my feelings to him. This is what all his friends feel about this expedition.
Reggie has been shortlisted together with 100 adventure-loving people from all over the world for one-way trip to Mars. What a way to go for an adventure? The world’s TV and radio channels, the newspapers, internet, Facebook and other media channels are showing interviews and news-stories of Reggie. His friends and relatives from Canada, Pakistan and other parts of the world are calling him on phone, sending emails, internet messages of congratulations. But these messages are wrapped in sadness and gloom because they will never be able to see Reggie once he departs for Mars. It is a one-way ticket. There is no return in this journey.
This trip reminds me a story in which the hero suffers from a terminal cancer for which there was no cure. The doctors told him that his life was going to end in a couple of months. He told his grandma that he was going on a journey to a far off place. The grandma, although quite sad, consoled herself saying that no matter what happens, he will return one day. He said: Grandma, I am not going to return because this journey has only one-way ticket.
Reggie’s journey has also one-way ticket. The people who are travelling on this voyage are not going to return. That’s what the plan is because the technology of the present time does not have the capability of bringing the travelers back.
I was thinking that in Pakistan when somebody dies we say that the person has left this world. Or he is no more in this world. The departed person has started his journey in eternity towards heaven.
In the case of Reggie, it’s a different story. He is a perfectly healthy and living person who has decided to depart from this world in the year 2024 after a time period of nine years from now. That means the people of this world shall not be able to see him after 2024. He will leave this earth for another planet never to return. He is not sick, nor has he passed away. He is a happy-go-lucky living person but he will not be seen in this world after 2024. He has decided that his life in this planet is for a period of nine years from now.
But then my mind takes me to another realm of thought. The people of this world have the custom of leaving this planet without their physical bodies whereas Reggie is going to set the practice of leaving this planet as a living person together with his physical body. And when I think on these lines my heart fills with great joy and victory for man.
Ever since the dawn of human life on earth, man has unceasingly fought a battle against death. Looking at it from this perspective I feel that man has come close to winning this battle. At least man has been able to change the modality of departing this earth without leaving physical body behind.
Having expressed all the above thoughts and feelings, I admire and appreciate the courageous heart and adventurous nature of Reginald Foulds who has decided to be among those few people who would go down into the history of mankind as pioneers to start the first settlements on another planet. What a great victory! It is impossible to describe its importance in words.
I can, therefore, say that Reggie, you are a great son of the soil. Your faith in the hope of returning back to earth one day may also manifest as a reality just as your adventurous nature has made it possible for you to depart from this planet as a living person. For this journey I would say to you: Bonn Voyage!
Mumtaz Shah