What constitutes happiness?
Healthy relationships? Opportunities for growth? Good mental health?
According to a new study, Mizoram seems to have all these and more making it the happiest state in India. The ‘India Happiness Report’ is the first-ever study of its kind and studied happiness levels across the 36 states and union territories in India.
Conducted by Dr. Rajesh K Pillania, Professor of Strategy and Area Chairperson-Strategic Management at the Management Development Institute (MDI) in Gurgaon in 2020, the study was based on 6 parameters, which were:
- work and related issues
- relationships
- physical and mental health
- philanthropy
- religious orientation
- the impact of COVID-19
The study covered 16,950 people across all Indian states and Union Territories. While Mizoram topped the charts, Punjab and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands ranked second and third, respectively.
Dr. Pillania is a researcher on happiness, and has authored 11 books and reports on happiness, according to his personal website.
Why Mizoram was ranked the happiest state
Mizoram is only the second state in India to achieve 100% literacy after Kerala, and, according to the report, it offers youth a host of opportunities for growth.
Mizoram does not have a caste system, and the parental pressure on children’s studies is far lesser than in other states. Children begin working at the ages of 16 or 17 without gender discrimination.
“The short-term objective is to create more interest in the topic of happiness and to create more awareness and discussion. The long-term objective is that these reports can give inputs into policy-making and strategies for organizations and governments for creating a happier India, aspiring for the better well-being of its citizens,” the report concludes.
