Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar has expressed disappointment over India’s 118th position in the 2025 World Happiness Index, arguing that the country’s true happiness level is much higher than reflected in the ranking.
Ravishankar emphasized that India’s deep social bonds, compassion, and sense of community make it deserving of a much higher ranking.
Criticizing the methodology behind the report, Ravishankar pointed out that India was ranked behind conflict-affected regions, questioning the logic of placing nations with ongoing disputes above a country like India.
“India has ranked 118, much behind the conflicting zones. Whatever the logic that there is more bonding in conflict areas, bonding alone is not enough.
But happiness, I feel, India is far, far better,” he stated.
India’s Strong Sense Of Community & Human Values
Ravishankar highlighted how India’s strong sense of community reflects its deeply embedded human values, such as compassion, hospitality, and resource-sharing.
He elaborated, “I have traveled all over the world, and I see that in India, human values are much higher; compassion, the way you welcome guests, and how people share resources are incredible. If something happens to your family, the entire village would come to help.”
According to Ravishankar, the notion that happiness correlates with economic status or poverty is flawed.
He argued that despite India’s challenges, including poverty and other issues, the country has seen significant improvements over the last decade.
He firmly stated that “poverty is not linked to happiness or unhappiness.”
Disparity In Rankings: India vs. Conflict Zones
Notably, India’s ranking of 118th placed it behind countries such as Pakistan, which ranked 109th, despite ongoing human rights concerns in regions like Balochistan.
Niaz Baloch, Coordinator of the Baloch National Movement, recently raised concerns at the United Nations Human Rights Council about Pakistan’s human rights violations in Balochistan.
This contrast only fueled Ravishankar’s argument about the disparity between rankings and actual living conditions.
The World Happiness Report, which informs these rankings, is a joint effort by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an independent editorial board.
The report evaluates factors such as income, social support, life expectancy, and perceptions of corruption to determine happiness levels.
Ravishankar’s comments have sparked a broader discussion on the reliability of global happiness rankings and the factors that should truly define a nation’s happiness.
While India faces challenges, the country’s rich social fabric and community-oriented values indicate that global indices may not fully capture its true happiness quotient.
Sri Sri Ravishankar’s critique of India’s low rank in the World Happiness Index draws attention to the gap between official rankings and the everyday realities of the country’s social cohesion and human values.
As discussions on happiness evolve, it becomes clear that we should give greater weight to India’s deep-rooted sense of community and compassion in measuring its true happiness levels.
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