From the wheel to the space shuttle, transport has, in sickness or in health, influenced human history. Driving us through the train of life, transport singles itself as an unavoidable link to the making of people and events. The grant of free bus rides for senior citizens and students has undeniably changed many lives. It encourages school attendance, relieves parents’ financial burden and mobility of seniors, irrespective of their motives.

On a less positive angle, the world caught a virulent terrorist virus when hijackers crashed two passenger aircrafts into the New York twin towers on that memorable 9/11 2001. Some 2,000 people died, but the collateral damage of subsequent wars and recurrent terrorist attacks is affecting billions worldwide. Similarly, after the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand by Serbian nationalists during a trip around Sarajevo in his motorcade, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia leading to WWI.

Had they not fallen from their horses, would Paul of Tarsus and Jacques Désiré Laval changed their paths in life? While the persecutor turned into one of the first active promoters of Christianity, known as St Paul, the doctor joined the seminary to become our nationally revered missionary priest, known as Father Laval. Identically, a train incident between Durban and Maritzburg triggered young lawyer Mohandas Gandhi’s lifelong crusade against injustice, racism and violence. Gandhi’s roadmap proves that peace, love and non violence are the best ways to overcome the greatest obstacles in life.

Noble prize winners Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King also started their remarkable journey with transport-related incidents. Martin Luther King’s fight for civil rights was triggered by the refusal of coloured seamstress Rosa Parks to give up her seat to a white passenger on board a Montgomery bus; while Mother Teresa is said to have had her divine call to help the poorest during a train ride from Calcutta to Darjeeling.

These examples are just a small sample of the contribution of transport to humanity. Yet, they also reinforce the temporary nature of our life on earth. The plain truth is that we are but passengers on the train of life. Our journey will be as fruitful, resourceful and memorable as the way we gear into it. Paying attention to the traffic code while being respectful, courteous and helpful to fellow passengers are a few ways to surf marvellously and memorably into living waters.

<B>Alain JEANNOT</B>