School for smiles is a capital idea!

Bhutan has so far been known the world over for its emphasis on happiness, in everything from development to education.

Now, the Delhi government appears to have decided to mirror those Himalayan smiles by introducing the ‘Happiness Curriculum’ for all children studying in state schools up to Class 8.

If a curriculum can, indeed, increase the Capital’s youth happiness quotient as well as overall productivity — as studies of Bhutan’s experience indicate — the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) must be complimented for initiating such a programme in Delhi, inaugurated by the Dalai Lama.


Mindfulness, meditation and storytelling could indeed prove to be a perfect shield for children growing up in trying circumstances and stressful times.

That the happiness scheme may also lead to AAP having the last laugh in the next elections, of course, cannot be discounted either.

Haryana has also launched a pilot project for a similar scheme in select government schools and several private educational institutions around the country have publicised their own prioritisation of happiness in their curricula.

Given that India ranked a dismal 133 out of 156 in the World Happiness Report in 2018, promoting our children’s holistic wellbeing in a country burdened with an intensely competitive and rote-based education system should be a no-brainer.