India, Jan. 3 -- When I was a young teenager in the late 1960s, the 21st century felt like science fiction. 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 not even in their dreams. And now here we are in 2026. Not so long ago, that would have been unbelievable.

For a start, I can't help 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 i...