Why Isn’t India on Top of The Good Country or Happiness Index?

Simon Anholt is the founder of the Good Country Index, which measures what each country on earth contributes to the common good of humanity, and what it takes away, relative to its size.

Similarly, the United Nations publishes a World Happiness Report every year. Each report is organized by chapters that delve deeper into issues relating to happiness, including mental illness, the objective benefits of happiness, the importance of ethics, policy implications, etc.

The list of the top countries looks impressive and inspiring, but one thing I noticed is that my country, India, isn’t on the top list — ever. It’s on 80 in The Good Country Index and on 133 in The Happiness Index. This has given me a jolt, and my heart is shattered into a million pieces.

However, this has also given me an opportunity for deep introspection and to find out the reason: despite being a spiritual hub of the world, despite having millions of places of worship, despite thousands of spiritual leaders, despite a deep-rooted charity culture and rich ancient wisdom in hundreds of scriptures.

I don’t say that these reports are 100% accurate or that I’ve lived or worked with people of other foreign countries, but there’s some logic and years of research in these reports. I don’t know how people are outside, but I almost know how people are in my country.  I know the culture and belief system of India.

We have been given the mantra that the world is one family in our ancient scripture, the Maha Upanishad, and we were the ones who believed that the guest is God since time immemorial. But in the 21st century, most of these values are no longer practiced religiously; they have diminished to a great extent.

Every country has its strengths and weaknesses; it has its good and bad side. I’ve spent my entire life here observing the good and bad sides, strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities.

I’ve visited a few foreign countries and observed some radical differences, especially moral and civic ones. I can list out a few dirty little things that happen every day that can be changed easily. These are things that keep happening daily despite all the awareness and social campaigns by private and public organizations:

• Vehicle drivers disobey traffic rules recklessly; this includes jumping red lights, parking at bus stops, standing on the zebra crossing, and perpetual honking
• Pedestrians cross the road without following the traffic lights and not using the foot-over bridge
• Vegetable sellers and buyers abuse plastic usage
• People litter and spit wherever they wish, especially on roads and in water bodies
• Deforestation is at an all-time high in the name of urbanization.
• Societies and municipalities are never in sync for waste garbage segregation
• Footpaths are full of illegal vendors
• People push each other like animals in local trains; there’s no queue ethics
• Reaching out to a politician or public servant is almost impossible.
• Some cities have become rape capital
• Women, young children, third gender, queer and senior citizens are mistreated
• Millions are still deprived of basic sanitation facilities; in fact, even for food and shelter

The list of such civil and moral crimes is never-ending. Not that other countries don’t have this, but we’re a million-year-old civilization, the hub of spirituality, trade, and moral values.

Millions of people come here to learn the art of getting connected with the almighty and seek their truth. So, where do we go wrong?

We’re the country that worships women as goddesses, and at the same time, one woman is reportedly raped every 15 minutes. We’re the country where money is worshiped, and at the same time, thousands of currency notes are thrown on girl dancers in the name of entertainment.

We’re the country rich in ancient wisdom, talent, moral values, language, science, art, but we are always in the race of becoming someone else; rather American. It’s high time to introspect and change our hypocritically selfish mindset for the betterment of ourselves and contribute to the world.

Who’s to be blamed? Population, government, corruption, colonial rule, authorities, companies, culture, false beliefs, hypocrisy, technology, social media, or people?

When you blame, you surrender your power to change, and I’m sure together we can bring India to the number one position in such reports. Nothing is impossible, but until then, maybe this is the hard truth.