We live in a world clutched by the shackles of materialism, deeply enrooted in all the spheres of human life. We invest an entire lifetime bracing ourselves to step into the unending race of materialism and acquisition. And when it is a race, there are numbers, ranks and a plethora of jargon sprinkled in context of measurement.
We measure GDP, standard of living, per capita income etc, to evaluate the growth and development of nations, but what happens when one tries to quantify a subjective emotion like happiness? Can happiness be measured? How can an individual’s expression of happiness be put at par with the happiness of millions of miscellaneous people across the globe?
Well, the Happiness Research Institute answers all the questions with its annual release of the World Happiness Report that ranks 156 countries of the world according to their happiness.
While Finland has retained the title of the happiest country in the world, two years in a row, India has slipped down from the 133rd position in 2018 to 140th position in 2019.
The one constant rival of India in its neighbourhood, Pakistan, beats India by occupying the 67th rank and amongst other neighbouring countries, Srilanka stands at 133, China-93, Bhutan-95, Nepal-100.
Various factors that determine the happiness levels of a country include life expectancy, social support, income, freedom, trust, health and generosity amongst others.
Indians consider good financial conditions and physical well-being as the top-most reasons to remain joyous.
“For Indians, it boils down to comfortable living conditions, robust health, good financial conditions, friends and social circle and to have purpose in life. Hobbies and interests are important too,” said Parijat Chakraborty, Country Service Line Leader, Public Affairs and Corporate Reputation, Ipsos India.
As India strives in sadness, the developed countries mostly witness the prevalence of happiness. In its continuous pursuit of development, India must find ways to reverse its consistent failure in happiness rankings.
Source(s):
https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2019/
-Laisha Gambhir
Beyond Assumptions 