Produced by the Films Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, these short news reviews by the Government of India give us a glimpse of old India. Produced one-year after Partition/Independence, the review shows Pandit Nehru in Karachi, messages of inter-communal harmony, tolerance and equality at the Urs of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, elephant diplomacy in the US, dance, theatre and hockey matches.
Located in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, Bhakra Dam is one of the largest dams in India. Construction of the dam started soon after independence in 1948 and it was opened in 1963. Agreement for the project had been signed before independence in 1944 by the Punjab Revenue Minister, Sir Chhotu Ram and the Raja of Bilaspur. However, the idea behind the project was suggested around 1910 by the British. My father worked on the dam during its construction and lived in Nangal for ten years. The dam is unequivocally the dream of modern India that Jawaharlal Nehru had imagined.
This 20 minute documentary is made by Films Division which was a production house for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Established in 1948, it regularly made documentary films.
So the World Happiness Report is out in which our social progress and levels of happiness can apparently be measured. In June 2016 the OECD made a commitment to “to redefine the growth narrative to put people’s well-being at the centre of governments’ efforts”. Happiness is can therefore be a part of our policy making as we develop and progress further as nations.
Levels of happiness can be determined by many personal factors, as well as social, economic and wealth. Interestingly, China which has experienced enormous growth, is no happier than 25 years ago (positioned 79 on the ranking table). As the list below indicates, India which has also experienced high growths in recent years is not the happiest country in the region. The South Asian perspective throws up some interesting rankings, especially Pakistan. So what makes us happy? Do share your thoughts.
37 Nepal
80 Pakistan
97 Bhutan
110 Bangladesh
120 Sri Lanka
122 India
141 Afghanistan
Read the full report: http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2017/
On a personal note and what made me think about happiness today, a serendipitous recommendation on YouTube which led me to Bhai Gopal Singh. It immediately took me back to my childhood of growing up in Nakuru, Kenya. His shabads were often played on the small cassette player, placed on top of the fridge. It would permeate the bungalow in the mornings and had left endearing and happy memories of childhood. Listening to his voice, immediately takes me back to those moments and so happiness can be captured in those precious memories. Content for time being.
Listen to Bhai Gopal Singh
BAGICHA 