(From The Gleaner, Jamaica WI)
Exiled from Earth (Part 1)
Madhu Rajan
The year 2111. The first batch of the people retiring from Earth is being sent to Mars. There is going to be a grand send off. People of the Earth are heaving a great sigh of relief. At last the most intimidating crisis of the 22nd century seems to have been resolved.
Yes, the most daunting problem of the century turned out to be humans themselves. The sheer number of humans had taken the human race by surprise. The population explosion about the beginning of the third millennium was such that all the best brains of the world were unable to come up with viable solutions.
The tremendous progress of science and technology too seemed ineffectual. Spectacularly increasing human longevity was simply complicating the already difficult situation. Housing the teeming billions was one of the lesser problems. For one, the advancement in computer science and information technology had reduced the demand for office spaces to a great extent. Secondly, building homes vertically had started in the last centuries. The difference was that the skyscrapers now really looked like touching the sky.
The tallest buildings of the earlier era looked puny against the new pillars of human ingenuity. The seemingly tough issues of sanitation and pollution were somehow kept under control. However, it was the depletion of the world resources that was causing much worry. Despite successfully exploiting the solar energy and mining from the sea bed and ocean floor, it was painfully clear to the scientists that in the face of the human onslaught very soon there would not be enough resources to go around.
Even more disturbing were the reports that earth had started to wobble on its keel. There was no unanimity among the scientists regarding the cause of this phenomenon. One extreme section claiming that it was the sheer weight of the humans beyond all reasonable proportions that was shaking the earth. However, the majority opinion was tilting towards the theory, which maintained that all the human interference with nature could have been at its core.
The interference could have been in the form of building dams or canals, changing the courses of rivers and blasting off mighty mountains, somewhere reclaiming land from the seas and submerging at others. Destroying the world's forests with all their fauna and flora and replacing it with concrete jungles instead would have contributed its share.
Digging the bowels of the earth to have underground transport, nuclear proof safe refuges and hundreds of other things in addition to constructing and creating mountains of steel, concrete and glass over it wouldn't have helped matters either.
Although the process of changing the topography of the Earth had been going on for ages, the last 200 years witnessed it at an unprecedented massive scale. The excessive accumulation of ice on the two ice caps of the world - north and south poles - and then its melting because of the global warming, resulting in the rise of sea levels and inundating large parts of land could only make the matters worse.
By the year 2110 the situation was so desperate that the United Nations formed a Committee to Save the Earth, with the most explicit brief to come up with some feasible alternative.
The time was long past for dilly-dallying with soft options. If the so-called unique planet of the solar system was to be saved along with the precious life on it, some very drastic steps were needed. The Committee could pin point the main issue quite clearly in its deliberations- how to reduce the number of humans on earth? It was more difficult to suggest a solution. After very determined and exhaustive deliberations the Committee at last came up with the following hard options. Emphasizing that probably more than one option will have to be used:
Euthanate all the terminally ill
Euthanate all the old people
Transfer all above 60 years of age to Mars
Execute all the criminals
All hell broke loose as the Committee made its report public. There were heated debates all over the world. Among the barrage of objections the harshest ones were those on the ethical and moral grounds. All the religious groups condemned them. And of course there was the human side to be considered. Families and communities faced terrible emotional and moral dilemmas. Arguments were advanced for and against each option. Finally, however, after a short period of utter confusion and chaos as the realisation of the desperate situation sank in, feeling absolutely helpless in that do or die condition, the third option was accepted with a modification.
The countries were given the mandate of deciding the age of retirement to Mars according to their specific circumstances. Most raised it to 80. Efforts had been going on to make Mars capable of supporting life for more than 100 years. In fact the United States of America and Russaia had sent space probes to Mars as early as 1995. After decades of concerted efforts scientists had certified the planet fit for human habitation and our first batch arrived, rather in the fashion of guinea pigs, I am afraid.
Exiled from Earth
(The final part of the short story )
One of the few commonalities of Mars with Earth is the time period of the day-night rotation.
Compared to earth's 24 hours, Mars takes 24 hours and 37 minutes for one entire rotation. However, one Martian year is almost double that of earth.
Hence winters and summers last nearly twice as long, although to describe any season on Mars, as summer is a joke except that it is not funny.
The highest temperatures on Mars are way below the lowest recorded during the coldest of winters on earth. The weirdest sights of all, however, are the two moons - the two satellites in the Martian sky - Phobos and Deimos.
And as if it was not enough, Phobos, the potato shaped one, revolves three times around Mars in 24 hours 37 minutes.
I, for one, heartily dislike the names and the peculiar shape. Imagine the contrast to our beautiful moon! I refer to them as moon and potato moon in my occasional talkswith our people back on earth.
Yes, The communication facilities with earth are excellent. Even better, with virtual reality we can almost imagine ourselves there. But alas! What is the use?
The people we so crave to see and talk to do not share our feelings. They are preoccupied with their mundane affairs and are always in a rush.
Over the period, I notice we try to speak less and less to our kin and instead simply spend time watching various places on earth. Believe me, I hadn't known such beautiful places during my 90 years on the planet.
REVELATION
It has been a singularly remarkable revelation to me that I love the earth and its magnificent flora and fauna so intensely. Even more surprising is the fact that I miss the little mundane things of everyday life - like the traffic on the roads, in the sky, the traffic jams, rushing on elevators bringing a child from our apartment on the 233rd floor to a lower floor to show him rain - even the everyday sounds and smells!
The pollution that invariably hid the moon and the stars, the inevitable, but extremely bothersome gas masks and visits to the oxygen bar, don't seem to matter all that much now.
We the exiles intend to organize ourselves into some kind of an association. An enormous club complex has just got readied and this evening we are going to have our first meeting in its auditorium. The sight of the tastefully-decorated and well-equipped hall cheered us a bit, for we felt that we were simply not dumped as unwanted. Instead, people back there cared for us.
To start the proceedings, first we had to elect a president. This was done by the simple way of nominating the eldest and most fit-looking member among us.
He happened to be 120-year-old Yoshi Yamamoto of Japan, looking quite old and humble. The idea was to formulate some kind of a plan to elect the office bearers of the club, get our bearings and then think of programmes for the club.
Most of us were expecting programmes like mid-morning coffee sessions to reminisce about the good old days on Earth, lectures on old-age health problems, card sessions and perhaps other games, gym and physical exercises for those few who were physically-fit and mentally-prepared for strenuous entertainment.
The idea was to while away time without being a drag as we waited for the inevitable end. Mr. Yamamoto changed all that. As we watched him walk to the stage and bow to all, no one could have guessed what he had to say. But once he started speaking, we knew there was nothing humble or old about him.
'Please accept my congratulations,' what, did we hear him wrong? most of us thought. Sympathies should be more in order. 'Yes, we all deserve congratulations for being chosen to set up a new planet for mankind,' he said.
Sensing some confusion among his audience he continued, 'Do I see surprise? Do you mean to tell me that all the senior citizens of the world have not discerned the silver lining in the clouds of our departure from earth? This is the most unexpected and unique opportunity our generation has got.
'Tell me, how many octogenarians and centurions could claim to have been selected to set up a new venture? Mind you, not just a small enterprise or an institution, but a new planet. We, of the physically frail shoulders and iron strong wills have been entrusted with this momentous task. A task no human being has ever had the chance to do. Our earth had life first and intelligence later. On Mars the process is somewhat reversed. We have the advantage of intelligence reaching here first.
'And now we can develop a planet right from scratch and exactly as we wish. We have with us the invaluable store of our experiences on earth. We can now develop our new planet avoiding all the pitfalls created on earth. We shall create a dream planet, a dream home.
'How many people on earth facing the eve of their lives have got this rare chance of ushering in a new dawn? None ever. We are the only lucky ones who can dare to dream a unique beautiful tomorrow. And not only for handful of us exiles from earth. No, it is nothing so small like that.
'No, what we have been entrusted with is a crucial responsibility for the future of entire mankind. We are the pioneers - not exiles. Let each one of us weave the exquisite patterns of that beautiful dream together and strive for its realization.
'Let us have a vision of our tomorrow`s home and leave no stone unturned. We must not give a chance to the future generations to say that we proved ourselves lacking in fulfilling the arduous responsibilities.
At this, there was tremendous applause. There was a distinct change of mood from which no one was left untouched. Mr Yoshi Yamamoto looked rather embarrassed with the continuous applause and he bowed repeatedly.
Then he requested if he could take a few more minutes. There was an instant chorus of acceptance in at least 20 languages, and, for once, no one had any difficulty in understanding them.
Mr Yamamoto again began in his soft humble fashion. And what attention he received! No one wanted to miss a single word. We were all ears.
He said '...having explained the background, kindly allow me now to share my humble views with all of you about Mars, our adopted home.
'Generally considered the angry red planet, Mars is not what the impressions are. Because of its distance from the sun it is starved of warmth and life. But, almost barren though it had been, it responded well to the efforts put in by humans. What is crucial is that it received us with open arms when we humans were in such a dilemma on Earth. Shouldn't we therefore provide that warmth and make Mars a warm and cosy home for ourselves? Being the most intelligent and advanced form of life, is it not our duty to compensate by our intelligent diligence what it has been deprived by nature?'
We could feel pleasant warmth flowing through our blood even in those sub-zero temperatures. Mr. Yoshi Yamamoto had transformed us from a bunch of despondent, lethargic old people to an eager enthusiastic group who couldn't wait to get going.
What all has happened since then is history - Martian history - which will, I am sure, be proudly repeated to every new batch of retirees. And it is with pride that I tell you what our scientists had been striving to achieve for the last 100 years or so, and barely managed - to make Mars inhabitable, we did not merely accomplish, we far surpassed them, in every sense of the word.
Mars is not only inhabitable, but also far more comfortable and attractive to live than what we left of earth. That is why we expect a sudden rush for the planet. This is one sphere we are going to be very stringent in.
At no cost will we allow people to repeat the mistakes made on earth. Mistakes that led to the Greenhouse Effect, environmental degradation and over-crowding are to be strictly avoided. All the new arrivals are given a crash course on life on Mars and the "dos" and "don'ts" to live here.
For us pioneers it is so gratifying to find total cooperation from succeeding arrivals, and it is delightful to see our efforts bear fruits - both figuratively and literally. Today we are truly self-sufficient for our food and energy requirements. Gradually we expect to reduce our dependence on earth completely. We love and cherish our new home.
But strange are the ways of the human mind and heart! Relaxing at home, looking at the irregular shaped Phobos, I yearn to get a glimpse of our moon shining over the sea on earth. The optional landscapes or skyline views of earth, which we can choose just by a flick of a button, are nowhere close to being physically on earth. While breathing `fresh' invigorating air-, we live in a transparent bubble of breathable air and controlled temperatures- I miss my days on earth of carrying an oxygen mask.
It is at such times that I know that each and every one of us proud Martians has got a secret yearning, an avid longing to be on earth. A desire we are afraid to admit, even to ourselves. Loving Mars as we do now, we will always love you more dear earth! Long live Earth!
mythology Sri Ram had used rocks to build a bridge to cross over to Sri Lanka. The "stone" was indeed floating. But of course I couldn't be sure if it was really a stone or stone look alike made up of some other material.
