Delhi Government adds 'How to keep happy' in kids curriculum, a unique initiative

 Delhi Government adds 'How to keep happy' in kids curriculum, a unique initiative

by Abhijeet Anand, The Statesman

Imagine a situation where every one feels depressed. Obviously, one would not want such a scenario. Moreover, why would anyone even want such a situation? Happiness seems to be the most endearing ‘object’ one looks for. This is beautifully shown in the movie Pursuit of Happyness. And yet despite hankering after happiness, all we get in day to day life is anxiety. So, should the government do something about it. After all, being happy is a right for everybody. In future, one can hope that an Act on Right to Entertainment will be passed. This might appear far fetched. But, some governments like Bhutan is concerned with the happiness of its citizens. So much so that its planning commission is called ‘Gross National Happiness Commission.’

Delhi government has embarked on a mission of imparting lessons to children in order to make them happy. A curriculum has been developed for students from Nursery to Class VIII. A group of 40 teachers have prepared the curriculum. The methodology involves telling fairy tale to the children which do not have the stereotypical stepmother in Cinderella. The idea according to a coordinator who prepared the curriculum is that the children see what is the reality and face it. She says happiness lies in living in the present moment. Looking for something that is ideal or perfect can only frustrate a child producing anxiety and depression.

Zen philosophers also say that it is being in the moment that makes one happy. Zen students meditate on Koans to become enlightened. Koans are nothing but a set of riddles on which the Zen students ponder. They keep meditating on these koans like “What is the sound of one hand clapping” for being in the moment. Using rosaries is common to all religions including Hinduism, Christianity, Islam or Sikhism. The practitioners keep counting beads with their fingers. All philosophies profess being in the moment to be happy.

But, it is quite a challenge to prepare a curriculum for children who are very restless. So, a period of 45 minutes have been kept for this ‘subject’. And are there exams? The coordinators say there are none. But students are supposed to listen to stories which help them imbibe some values. They feel that HRD Ministry should also do something in this direction. National Curriculum Framework should be designed in a way that the whole focus is not on arithmetic and language etcetera.

A senior clinical psychologist says that a child personifies simplicity. With every aspect of living becoming adult-centric, children are not getting the right nurturing. “They are not complex beings. It is we adults who treat children in a way which disturbs their simplicity,” says Simrita Chaudhuri, VIMHANS.

Our ancient wisdom testifies this. The Panchatantra have stories which are witty and involves animals. They are said to have been written in 300 BC by Vishnu Sharma. Similarly, there is the ageold art of puppetry which children find amusing. No wonder puppet shows are used to impart learning and giving message also. Nowadays, there are animation films. Sadly, there are not many films that are made to entertain children. Almost all the films are made today have the certification of Under Adult Supervision or Adult given by CBFC. Children Film Development Corporation (CFDC) has also been dormant for a long time.

So in such a scenario, it is even more pertinent that the government introduces a curriculum in happiness. A curriculum in happiness can be helpful in prevention of suicides among youth and adolescents. While some states have a suicide prevention programme other don’t. Tamil Nadu has a programme called Suicide Prevention and Implementation Initiative (SPIRIT). A national suicide prevention policy is need of the hour. Decriminalisation of suicide was a good step as suicide is a mental health and a socio-economic issue.

Finland is one of the countries which has a government-led, National Initiative for Suicide Prevention with efforts beginning way back in 1970s. And it has earned itself the top position according to global happiness report of 2018. Several European countries including Denmark and Norway are not far behind.  

The rankings are based on pooled results from Gallup World Poll surveys. All the top countries tend to have high values for all six of the key variables that have been found to be conducive to well-being. Income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity.  

Education Secretary of the Bhutan government, Karma Yeshey, says that the initiative of the Delhi government is a good one. However, a compliment on the curriculum that has been prepared by Delhi government is received with a humble nod by the Education Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia. Yeshey says that Bhutan does not have a curriculum on happiness but they promote some values that are conducive to happiness.

There is no feedback as yet on the course work of happiness yet which was implemented in Delhi government schools this year. But Delhi government officials say that a trial was conducted before launching it in all the schools. No doubt, the model should be replicated by other state governments also and the central government also.

Adolescents are facing more emotional problems than ever today. They are at a greater risk of committing suicide. India has the highest rate of suicide among the age bracket of 15 to 29. So experts feel strongly that dealing with symptoms of mental health should be taught and promoted from an early age.

The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 has decriminalized the attempt to commit suicide by seeking to ensure that individuals who have attempted to commit suicide are offered opportunities for rehabilitation from the government. Earlier, a taboo was attached to suicide because it was a criminal act. The Act also aims to empower persons suffering from mental illness thus marking a departure from the Mental Health Act of 1987.