Gross National Happiness was an idea that was mooted in the seventies in Bhutan, but has now become a global norm for many. In the kingdom of Bhutan, happiness is the measure of the region’s progress, not just GDP, an idea that was soon adopted across the world. Now India may be jumping on the happiness bandwagon.
Only a few days ago, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh announced the formation of the state’s department of happiness, the first in the country. Gross National Happiness in Bhutan is based on a few fundamentals “ sustainable development, the promotion and preservation of culture, conservation of the environment and establishment of good governance. Over
the past 20 odd years, Bhutan has doubled life expectancy, ensured
that it has 100 percent of its children enrolled in school
and revamped the country’s infrastructure. In terms of GDP,
it ranked 116th in the world in 2014. India was ranked at 125.
Contrast this with Denmark. Ranked 21 in 2014 in terms of
GDP, it is number 1 in terms of happiness. Its citizens pay taxes
that range between 30 to 60 percent, but get free education,
free care for children and for the aged, and have strong labour
laws that restrict working hours to 32 per week.
The ministry of happiness in Madhya Pradesh might be a
small step towards a happier India. In an article published
in 2005 in The Hindu, JRD Tata was quoted as saying, “I don’t
want India to be an economic superpower. I want India to be a
happy country.” That should not be a pipe dream.
