Gross National Happiness was an idea that was mooted in the seventies in Bhutan, but has now become a global norm for many. Only recently, the citizens of Denmark was voted was the world’s happiest. 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 now 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. They get value for the money paid. Not all is great about Denmark but the people are far happier than those in India.
If the country here had to undergo a survey, leaving aside GDP, it would surely find out how happy its citizens are, with infrastructure, development and labour laws, among other things. 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.
