In hot pursuit of happiness

Unlike the people of the country, several generations past who pursued their callings in their respective settlements, their counterparts of the land nowadays seem to be on the move both within the country and offshore destinations triggered by many factors including family-related issues, better opportunities for starting enterprises, more comforting weather, transfers by the employing agencies such as Government, desire to change of location to live, sense of safety away from disturbed conditions in public life, reunion with their sons and daughters taking residence away from ancestral home and so on. If asked whether they are happy in either their settlements or in their changed environs, they are sure to respond revealing many fascinating features which should interest sociologists in particular and lay people in general. Some may regret about their choice between stay-put in their soil and seeking a difference in location while the rest may not be none the worse for their act. While there is no law concerning movement of people in exodus under peaceful conditions, they are totally free to take residence in any region of the country, now including the two newly created Union Territories  where that was not possible until abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.

Scholars may enlighten us to get clarity about comfort and happiness as one impacts the other. The sense of comfort has its role in the ongoing feature of rustics moving to cities on an unprecedented scale. Whether they also experience the more important sense of happiness is a matter of comparison between their former home and their new unfamiliar environs, despite landing a job with assured income.

Moving to a different part of the same city for taking residence and shifting to a different urban space are propositions having a bearing on many factors, both social and economic. While the total geographical area of the country is not only well defined but also constant, the number of cities within that territory are rising steadily and the areas of virtually all cities are expanding to host the new arrivals threatening both feeling of comfort and sense of happiness. A typical remark by the residents of Mysuru who have lived long years of their life in the city is likely to give a low rating to both comfort and happiness compared to what they experienced decades ago. If the question “What is the way ahead to restore both living comfort and the lost sense of happiness?” the answer is very likely to be blank look on one’s face.

Given the compulsions of modern ways and pace of life, highly technology-driven and focussed on physical comforts, the only option to keep discomfort and unhappiness in check seems to be in the realm of changing our mindset. But, it is a tall order for the present generation, both rustic and urban.