Happiness a Government Policy

Only those who are happy are the true citizens of the country. Happiness is quite essential when it comes to safeguarding the ideal system of democracy. The people must always be happy, irrespective of the circumstances surrounding them. To make the people sad and unhappy is nothing but the hateful politics of the opposition. The government, on its part, has ensured the constitutional right of the people to be happy. Every single individual in the country is free to be happy, no matter what the situation is. The law becomes active, as it always has, if and when caste, religion or class obstructs one’s right to happiness.

 

The Great King Prithvi Narayan Shah used to say that the palace becomes strong when the people grow fat. But today, you get diseases if you grow fat. Therefore, don’t be fat; rather be lean and thin like me, but be happy! The government has made all the arrangements to make you happy. For example, the police administration exists solely to make the people happy. Sad people feel a sense of delight at the very sight of the police and are soon compelled to be happy at once.

 

When the police leave, they gratefully thank God with joyous hearts, as if a crisis had passed or their lives had been spared!

 

Happiness is an art, and it is also our culture. From the very moment it takes the oath, the government becomes committed to the protection and promotion of art and culture. That is precisely why there are liquor shops in every nook and corner of the country to ensure that the night is loaded with fun, pleasure and merriment no matter the day’s struggles. At the very least, this is the government’s effort. The responsible citizens of the country get to be happy because of the government’s effort. This, indeed, is the formula for nation-building!

 

I, for one, can become happy without the government’s aid. So far, they haven’t come up with a law preventing one from becoming happy. Moreover, there is no tax imposed on happiness, either! Since the government is not levying a luxury tax on happiness, it doesn’t cost us anything to become happy. Is this a small sacrifice on the part of the government – to let the people become happy without any cost? This is no small freedom that you can smile, laugh or even dance anytime you feel like. So far, you don’t need to go through government registrations or acquire a license to become happy! Otherwise, if the government really wants, it can make a law ensuring the first to be happy is the High Command, then the Prime Minister, the ministers and only after that will it be everyone else’s turn.

 

Just as when development funds trickle down and only a couple of coins remain after all the leakage, in the same way, when happiness filters down, perhaps only half a centimeter of a smile will be left. But no, the government seems to prioritize that people should remain happy at little cost. That’s why it has imposed no tax on sunlight, nor on air. And when it comes to happiness, there is complete exemption.

 

Now, the situation is quite ripe for the Nepal Rastra Bank to publish a separate ‘Cheap Happiness Index’ to measure the level and degree of happiness. A ‘Happiness Prize’ may also be awarded to those who can “be happy on an empty stomach” and those who can “praise the government on TikTok”.

 

Moreover, the government can whip up a separate ‘Ministry of Happiness’, declare ‘National Happiness Talent’ and chalk out a 20-year strategy to make the people happy. If not a separate ‘Happiness Ministry’, the government can surely form a ‘Happiness Commission’, appoint their near and dear ones to that and make them happy!

 

But there are sad and unhappy folks, too, in the country. They refuse to bask in the sun to get vitamin D, they don’t walk in the fresh air to take in the oxygen, and they don’t even agree to be happy. In such a case, which minister is supposed to go and tickle their bellies to make them laugh?

 

Even with all the exemptions and facilities, happiness is still a matter of one’s own taste, desire and nature. For our happiness, the martyrs gave us freedom. True republicans keep smiling even when their soul is in pain. Those who cannot remain happy may face disciplinary action from the party.

 

As far as I am concerned, I can be happy in any circumstances. The unhappy complain – “The government is incompetent. It has pushed the country to the brink of danger’. But I am happy. Some political analysts declare – “Sooner or later, this government will collapse.” They also add that those who will replace this government are much more traditional and dogmatic and will push the country 100 years back. But I am still happy. Because they are yet to come!

 

Right now, direct and indirect wars are going on between different countries of the world. But the good thing is, we are living in peace. Terrorism has increased globally. Yet, let us rejoice—we are still alive! Shouldn’t we be happy simply because we are surviving? Behind this, the government stands with us. After all, the happiness of the people does matter to the government. In fact, happiness is a government policy!

 

This article was originally published in September 2025 issue of New Business Age magazine.