Why is frustration and discontent among Indians on a rise?

The recent report on global happiness - World Happiness Report 2019, a UN

aided survey, - puts India in a sorrowful spot. The report "measures"

happiness. Though statisticians might dust away the idea of holding happiness

under an arithmetical umbrella - the philosophical and sociological threads

justify this assessment.

As a child, I was taught to behave properly. My teachers engrained the notion

of becoming a "happy person" over a monetarily rich person. Only, the vague

concept of "happiness" was left for me to decide on an individual level.

However, in real life I subsequently realised that it has always been the society

that has enforced the notions of ethics, morality and happiness over me - on

an individual level. Not the other way around. The same society – which

continuously tested my thoughts - today classifies economic vitality as the

road to happiness. But wait, doesn’t this become dichotomous to what I was

taught, as a child?

Is India happy?

Will happiness be a concomitant product of high Gross Domestic Product

(GDP)? To answer this, let us observe a quick birds-eye view of the Indian

Economy. As the IMF suggests, we are the third-largest economy on the basis

of purchasing power parity. Our fiscal deficit is under control; real exchange

value does not show any impending worrisome signs. Moreover, our GDP is

doing better than most nations. Does this mean India is a "happy" country?

Absolutely, no. Indian ranking dropped to 140 among 156 nations this year.

We even might be a 5 trillion economy by 2024 but unhappiness will pervade

through the society like a knife inside a butter. But why is this the case?

Society: Then and now.

I often listen to my father's heydays which I identify as "alien days". When

someone discusses a time when travelling to work happened devoid of radio

cabs, or Metro rail - they indeed are ‘alien’. This ‘alien’ generation was

associated with direct socialisation lacking any commercial aspect. The jobs

were taken near to the residence and walking from/to office involved multiple

halts - analysing the governmental policy, quipping Bollywood stars or even

sipping tea. None of this is noticeable today. Commercialised interactions have

taken a priority. There is no limit to territory while seeking a job. Plug-ins have

replaced the travel -talks. Everything new this generation has, though more

technologically advanced, it has undermined the support structure which often

becomes indispensable to come out of anxiety, depression or seclusion. Our

parents didn't require therapy as most of us do. Therefore, though societal

advancements have eased our lifestyle, it has even aided in increasing the

discontent.

Rising academic competition.

A large population of 1.3billion becomes a serious impediment to people's

happiness. 98% - 99% cut off in every Tier A college is common. More

ubiquitous is the nettlesome struggle every student faces.

Though the government must be commended for their work in increasing the

Gross Enrolment Ratio ( in schools ), a corresponding room is not being created

in higher education. Attributed to it, in the coming years, we even might see a

100% cut-off in a few reputable colleges.

Competitive examinations such as the prestigious Civil Services or IIT or AIIMS

tend to be more tractable than taking birth in this world. Not kidding. With

7lakhs applicants and only 900 seats - the conversion percentage of Civil

Services comes out to be around 0.1 %. Therefore, the resulting frustration is

bound to be present. The individual and the rising discontent among students

is only a reflexion of the failed state education policies.

Behavioural Change of the new generation.

This increase in the competition has also led to a behavioural change among

the new generation of middle/upper-middle class. My 4-year-old

contumacious niece cries when she is not able to win a game at a birthday

party. More concerning is when I observed a similar emotion pervading the

other children as-well. The current materialism and economic growth have

allowed parents to provide those amenities to their children, which once, they

were devoid of. Though I am not suggesting any parental advice, however,

Mukti Singh a psychology scholar says, such activity only creates a spill over

effect in every situation. It's precisely due to this why a child gets used to

attaining whatever he/she demands. And when an entity desired is denied to

him/her ( like the prize in the birthday party ), the baying starts.

Medical situation.

Apart from rising competition, India, at the moment is marred with acute

medical infrastructure and services that cannot effectively cater to the masses.

On any day one can witness a colossal number of people flooding the

government hospital premises. Delay, ignorance and in few cases a misdiagnosis engulfs a household into a perpetual medical cycle - which in

common parlance can be termed as a "Chakravyuh" This is because there is

often no way out. The situation is worsened by a poor insurance penetration

which in 2016 stood at only 3.5% of the Indian GDP. This is quite low when

compared to many corresponding developing countries. Under this backdrop

how are households supposed to maintain their happiness level?

Aside individual happiness, health even plays a pivotal role in increasing the

human and social capital of a nation. Therefore, not only the household suffers

but, in this case, so does the State.

Rising suicides cases.

When a good number of lives that are lost due to low penetration and

consolidation of medical facilities, especially in deep tribal and village areas,

India also has one of the highest number of suicide cases. Whether it is

attributed to the farmer discontent, educational pressure or solitude - social

pressure has often played an influential role. (However, not denying the

psychology involved at the individual level which as an adjunct plays an

important part.) It is to be noted that suicide is equally "contagious"; in rich

society as much as it is among the poor. The cause might differ. But if a

conducive societal framework is implemented that dilutes the infrastructure

bottlenecks, rationalises the outmoded education system, the number of

avoidable deaths can be abated in both the cases. Again the solution here lies

in development and not growth, inclusiveness and not stratification and one-

ness not individuality.

Keeping this in mind, the statistical indicator which measures our nation’s

advancement i.e Gross Domestic Product, must be changed or at least

tweaked. The refinement can include other parameters than can measure and

produce a ‘happy’ society. Till that time, we might even grow at the rate of 9%,

our happiness and satisfaction will keep dwindling, and our rank in the

Happiness List will keep slumping.

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