Spin in speech lights up the conversation

When Iwas a young teenager in the late 1960s, the 2ist century felt like science fiction.

- Karan Thapar

If George Orwell's 1984 was still far into the indefinite future, an altogether new century was unimaginable. No one I knew had even thought about it. Probably noteven in their dreams. And now here we are in 2026. Not so long ago, that would have been unbelievable.

Forastart, Ican'thelp but feel that there is something wondrous about being in 2026. It's like a journey into a future I once thought was far far away. If in the 1970s and 80s, a time machine could have transported me into the second quarter of the next century, I wouldn't have known what to expect. Yet, it feels surprisingly similar. Life has changed — how could it not? — but it feels the same. I'm still me and I haven'taltered. Older, greyer, crankier no doubt, but still the same person and personality. Is that what they call overcoming the challenge of time? The years roll by, butyou stay in control of your essential self.