2.12 ndian onom
guide for their nations and the world. The World A time also came when many scholars and
Happiness Report was published in support of these world leaders raised the ultimate question—
efforts to bring the study of happiness into public are we happier today? And in the wake of this
awareness and public policy. This report offers increased ‘scrutiny’ around the world, there came
rich evidence that the systematic measurement the UN resolution of 2011 which invited member
and analysis of happiness can teach us much countries to measure the happiness of their
about ways to improve the world’s well-being and people and to use this to help guide their public
sustainable development. Now it depends on the policies. The WHR 2012 itself provides a very
nations as how they use the findings of the WHR. interesting and eye-opening inquiry into the state
of human happiness in the world. To understand
the bAckgrounD the ‘shift’ which is expected to take place among
In July 2011 the UN General Assembly passed a policymakers around the world in coming years,
historic resolution.13 It invited member countries it will be better to lift some ideas from the first
to measure the happiness of their people and to use WHR: 16
this to help guide their public policies. This was (i) This is an age of stark contradictions.
followed in April 2012 by the first UN high-level While at the one hand the world
meeting on happiness and well-being, chaired by enjoys technologies of unimaginable
the Prime Minister of Bhutan. At the same time sophistication, at the other hand,
the first World Happiness Report was published,14 at least one billion people are living
followed some months later by the OECD without enough to eat. The world
Guidelines setting an international standard for economy is propelled to soaring new
the measurement of well-being.15 heights of productivity through ongoing
technological and organisational
re-imAgining the iDeA of hAPPiness advances; yet it is relentlessly destroying
Search for a ‘happier’ life for humanity has been the natural environment in the process.
the ultimate aim of not only saints, seers and Countries achieve great progress in
philosophers, but of economists too. The whole economic development as conventionally
gamut of economics literature on progress, measured; yet along the way countries
growth and development is ultimately aimed at succumb to new crises of obesity, smoking,
bringing more ‘happiness’ into the lives of human diabetes, depression, and other ills of
beings. Over the time, diverse ideological currents modern life. These contradictions would
impressed upon the humanity to take variety not come as a shock to the greatest sages
of ‘meanings’ out of the highly subjective term of humanity, including Aristotle and the
‘happiness’—and finally, the humanity is where Buddha, who taught humanity, time
it is today. and again, that material gain alone will
not fulfil our deepest needs. Material life
13. UN General Assembly, Happiness: Towards a Holistic
must be harnessed to meet these human
Approach to Development, United Nations 19 July
2011. needs, most importantly to promote the
14. J. F. Helliwell, R. Layard & J. Sachs (eds.), World end of suffering, social justice and the
Happiness Report 2012, Earth Institute, New York, attainment of happiness.
USA, 2012.
15. OECD; Guidelines on Measuring Subjective Well- 16. J. F. Helliwell, R. Layard and J. Sachs (eds.), World
being, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Happiness Report 2012, Earth Institute, New York,
Development, Paris, 2013. USA, 2012.