Was reading an article from Hindu recently that talked about how Indians are rated the fourth happiest people in the world. Am surprised on what statistics they used to arrive at this conclusion. India is usually on the top list for not securing an Olympic medal, for poverty and caste system etc, but happy people come from India- reminds me of the advertisement on TV- "Happy Cows come from California."
The theory behind this conclusion was that "Indians are pleased by small things and happenings." Examples stated in the article that were given by folks who were interviewed for this poll were hot steaming idlis that are soft to eat and starched cotton saris to enhance one's mood. The article proudly points out that Indians love to yap- drinking filter coffee, a married son visiting his parents home for a lzay weekend and being in a contented relationship with someone you love are all anecdotes that the people mention as reasons for their happiness in India.
The article ends with a note on how some folks have a cynical viewpoint and say that the IT bubble that is currently ruling India would eventually fade away leaving behind more homeless beggers on the side-walks and happiness for those folks would by helping do their share for the social welfare.
Finally, my thoughts on this- is happiness so easy to achieve that people in India attribute monitary successes and daily mundane tasks to happiness? Or are we folks living out here in another part of the world still struggling to interpret what happiness for each one of us is?
Would be interested to read your thoughts on this-Have a Happy Day!!!
9 comments:
Sometimes, search of monetary benefits may make us to lose some precious moments in life.. In that context, it is good to hear that we Indians, are better than other nationals in terms of happiness....
Interpreting what is happiness is very essential,but wasting all the time interpreting without enjoying has no meaning.
i agree with vee-jay. its important to enjoy the simple pleasures. i even had a post on some of those some time back. they might be simple and the happiness might last only a few seconds but when seen as a group, they make life so much better.
ram: true.
vee-jay:yes, we are contented in enoying the "chinna chinna aasai's" of life.
lakshmi:hmm...intha message yaaruku?
balaji:yes, i do remember your post from long ago on simple pleasures and yes all these simple pleasures add up as a collective feeling of happiness.
yarukum particulara sollala.
Money is important but money alone cant bring happiness.. Big happy moments come usually less frequently.. If we enjoy the lil moments, that enough to keep us happy.. (as Balaji wrote a few weeks ago)
Whatever it is, if we deeply realize that it is the only life we are given a chance and each passing day is not gonna come back, then we should try to stay happy as much as we can.. Whats the point in being sad anyways?
raju:i agree with you on the thought that big happy moments come less frequently and hence we must make use of these. Thanks!
Like many have already pointed out, in this life full of tensions and challenges, these little pleasures keep us going. I remember, during my student days, getting a bus on time at all connections used to be my greatest joy!!
BTW, the survey seems to have covered a very small section of Indians(south Indians should we say, since idli and filter coffee features in the list!).
me_too:tahnks for your take on this. Yes, since the article was on Hindu-Chennai edition, i guess they surveyed only a small portion of South Indians and put in their responses.
College days-a wow, antha days ninaichale, its so much fun.
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