The UN report 2021 says Finland is the happiest country and the top 10 happy countries include Denmark, Switzerland and New Zealand. From the 149 strong nations surveyed, USA is listed as 20, China 85 and guess where India is listed? It is at 140. This report is drawn up based on many criteria like GDP, citizens psychology of well being, use of time, life expectancy, education, freedom, corruption in government and business, good governance, trust in government, law and order, Medicare and malnutrition, cultural diversity, ecological resilience and community vitality among others. Variable factors like income, social support, healthy lifestyle, generosity also feature. What works for Finland may not work in India given our vast land, diversity and culture, but we must certainly heed ground realities and try to eliminate what is making people unhappy in our country.
The GNH (Gross National Happiness) index first came about in Bhutan in 1970. King Jigme Wangchuck insisted that increasing GDP will not bring happiness, and today Bhutan has GNH included in their Constitution as something government must strive for. I have lived through the British and Portuguese raj, World War II, partition, and seen/experienced the good, bad and ugly during Independence and the aftermath, also did my bit in the armed forces. A new India is under construction. So what will make Indians truly happy citizens and our nation naturally feature in the top ten of the world happy countries? We need to replace TQM (total quality management) with TQP (total quality people). People with universal values who do not accept the unacceptable!
Let us consider facts and shun egoistic denials. Unfortunately a book of rules is placed in our cradle and rules us to the grave? We need a good education, no gender, religious or any other imposed discrimination, level playing field for jobs, good neighbours and nurturing society, a trusted government with transparency and accountability, which uses police and enforcement agencies primarily to look after the security and wellbeing of the citizen and render all help required! The laws and rules are made accordingly so there is happiness and no fear factor. There is equitable and inclusive justice. Adult citizens have freedom to choose the way they want to live within good laws made in their interest, and there is no question of a nanny government imposing prejudiced views and moral policing to restrict democracy as guaranteed by the Constitution! The only VIPs are the citizens whose welfare is paramount.
Can a wonderful colourful nation like India be happy painted with one saffron color, with polarisation and discrimination; reservations, privileges, intolerance, caste and religious prejudices, untrustworthy politicians and government? The Luytens gang replaced by bigger gang of imposing nationalistic Hindutva ideology people with vision of a unipolar aggressive nation guided by its perceived glorious culture and past. Indians must infuse a good future vision with scientific temper and drastic electoral and police reforms for a start! There is no doubt that India has the intelligence, capacity and the wherewithal to orient itself towards a genuine Ram raj where people are served first and government their servant. Right now it’s the other way around.
In the old days the traditions, entertainment and lifestyles evolved in the era of less knowledge, no mobile phones, internet, Google, etc. The impositions with State patronage, trying to control what people may eat, drink, wear, freedom of religion, who someone goes out with or marries, some rigid culture restricting privacy and freedom to choose enslaves us. Fundamentalism, religious, caste and even gender discrimination are still being practised! The Farmers agitation, CAA and other impositions despite massive democratic dissent are being steamrolled. People’s voices must be heard over those of large corporations, heeding natural systems of the earth! We need a concrete GDH (gross domestic happiness) index for a diverse nation. We must acknowledge our problems, accept ground realities or live in a fool’s paradise! We will have truly arrived only if we can improve our happiness index for all our people first before trying to become a world power.
A happy nation requires a participative, effective, responsive government that operates by consensus, service before self with transparency and accountability. Good slogans like “sab ke saath, vikas, vishwas” and “vasudaiva kutumbakum” hypocrisy vanishes with them being practised without discrimination! The government and people are law abiding, so justice and rule of law prevails. Covid has exposed all hypocrisy! I am writing at a time witnessing hospitals, graveyards, crematoriums overflowing, shortages of oxygen, ventilators, vaccines and medics! The election campaigns and mega religious traditions took priority where most Covid protocols were thrown to the winds. There is figurative murder of democracy and innocent public due to government policies and arrogance! The people are overwhelmed and there is no accountability! The central government and the State authorities are blaming each other and there is exploiting and extortion going on wherever possible. We have not nurtured TQP! Jeevan Sampada (Life’s true wealth) is to be attained where there is safety, joy and laughter in our lives. Bharat Mata needs to retain what is relevant and useful. Reject the superstitious and outdated enabling every citizen to contribute towards building a happy nation. The earth, skies, air and water are beautiful and were pristine without us. Sadhguru warns “either we consciously change, or mother earth will do it to us in a cruel way!”
(The author is a retired naval officer, freelance writer resident in Porvorim)