Post on 11-May-2015
Happiness and IndiaPrepared by Bela Gupta | With Contributions from Family, Friends and Strangers
Happiness to me means harmony with myself and those I share my space with. “
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Nishant D’Souza
Bela Gupta
Bela Gupta
Bela Gupta
Happiness is my family. Nothing matters more to me than raising my children to be good, healthy, successful and loving members of society. I want my children to make me proud and to always stay near me. That’s all I ask of God. “
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Diana Cobaleda
Bela Gupta
Bela Gupta
Aparna Jayakumar
If you see somebody who does not have enough means as you have, that makes you unhappy. You feel helpless. That was the biggest reason when we moved out of Bombay. I was miserable - my ride to work every morning was so unhappy that I couldn’t stay there anymore. I saw these people deprived everyday spending their whole day on a foot path. Sure, you look at people above you that make you unhappy, but the same applies when looking at those who have less than you.
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John Redgrave
John Redgrave
Diana Cobaleda
India (and most of Asia, actually) is a living proof that happiness is derived from a dynamic process or path and not a final static stage one can reach. Regardless of the absolute level of comfort and wealth, we look to others around us to establish a relative baseline, and that to me can explain how Indians seems so happy and in peace with themselves despite the tough conditions.“ “
Diana Cobaleda
John Redgrave
Happiness is a personal matter. It is internal rather than external. In my view, happiness is not a momentary elated feeling of jubilation but a permanent bliss and contented state of mind achieved by a person after years of leading a disciplined, principles, purposeful, healthy and spirited life. It is not for others to judge whether you are happy or not. You have to ask yourself whether you are happy or not and you will get the true answer. While it is extremely difficult to be happy all the time and one should always strive for it, there is a stage beyond and above happiness which is sublime peace, spirituality and harmony within your inner self.
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Diana Cobaleda
Diana Cobaleda
Bela Gupta
Bela Gupta
I found the fluidity between work and life to be incredibly fascinating - it especially dawned on me when I walked into work and saw my co-workers on the floor making petal designs for Onam. I found not only the designs to be particularly beautiful, but the gesture as well. It was incredible to experience a willingness in the work culture to inject happiness, patience, and time to breathe, especially when coming from America.
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Lindsey Barnes
Lindsey Barnes
Lindsey Barnes
Lindsey Barnes
India’s definition of happiness is very tied to what class you are in. The serving class gets an extreme sense of happiness and pride from serving well. The middle class increasingly derives happiness from personal development and accomplishment. Even the poorest people in India appear happy. I think their perseverance and “ability” to cope with their situation and fight for their survival combined with religious beliefs allows them to be comfortable with their situation. I am not saying that their situation is acceptable from our point of view but rather they accept and make the best of the cards they are dealt. I think this is actually a tougher pill to swallow for those of us who have seen the developed world.
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Bela Gupta
Bela Gupta
Diana Cobaleda
In India, happiness is like making love. When you are making love, you are focused on making the other person happy. You ask less of “what is in it for me”. In India people consider happiness unrelated to themselves – it is based on collective decisions. Many Indians are ready to go with the happiness of their family over their own any day.
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Karthik Venkateswaran
I’ll tell you why we’re happy – its because of our desserts! Do you know, India has one of the largest ice-cream markets in the world (you can forget about our diabetes and cholesterol statistics for minute)? “
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Diana Cobaleda
Diana Cobaleda
Bela Gupta
We preach this notion of fatalism that puts your entire fate in the hands of a pre-determined destiny. If you think you deserve to be where you are, you are not going to be asking questions. “
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Aparna Jayakumar
Aparna Jayakumar
Diana Cobaleda
Diana Cobaleda
Diana Cobaleda
Maria Sierra