Gross National Happiness

 Our nation is progressing by leaps and bounds. Our progress is measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Well, of-course it is a good indicator of the economy of the country but I believe it is not a complete system. Economists have long known that GDP is not a perfect system. What if there existed a system which can better judge a nation’s economical progress with better means than the GDP.

Well, such a method exists and is currently followed by Bhutan. It is called Gross National Happiness(GNH). The term was coined in 1972 by Bhutan's former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who had opened up Bhutan to the age of modernization, soon after the demise of his father, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. He used the phrase to signal his commitment to building an economy that would serve Bhutan's unique culture based on Buddhist spiritual values. Of-course, Bhutan is the only country which uses this method but research is on into whether we can switch from our current GDP system to GNH so we as country can plan our economic wellbeing based solely on the citizen’s happiness rather huge profit margins.

 As we all know that a nation’s economic well-being depends largely on the happiness of the people. If people are satisfied with the salary they make, then probably it can be inferred that that the economy is doing well.  As economic development on the planet approaches or surpasses the limits of ecosystems to provide resources and absorb human effluents, calling into question the ability of the planet to continue to support civilization, many people have called for getting "Beyond GDP" (the title of a recent EU conference) in order to measure progress not as the mere increase in commercial transactions, nor as an increase in specifically economic well-being, but as an increase in general well-being as people themselves subjectively report it. GNH is a strong contributor to this movement to discard measurements of commercial transactions as a key indicator and to instead directly assess changes in the social and psychological well-being of populations.

GNH value largely depends upon:

1.     Economic Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of economic metrics such as consumer debt, average income to consumer price index ratio and income distribution

2.     Environmental Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of environmental metrics such as pollution, noise and traffic

3.     Physical Wellness: Indicated via statistical measurement of physical health metrics such as severe illnesses

4.     Mental Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of mental health metrics such as usage of antidepressants and rise or decline of psychotherapy patients

5.     Workplace Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of labor metrics such as jobless claims, job change, workplace complaints and lawsuits

6.     Social Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of social metrics such as discrimination, safety, divorce rates, complaints of domestic conflicts and family lawsuits, public lawsuits, crime rates

7.     Political Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of political metrics such as the quality of local democracy, individual freedom, and foreign conflicts.

Hopefully, we will witness this paradigm shift in the near future where the economy will be more suited to the social needs of the people.

The Queen of the Nilgiris, Jiyo life in Ooty this Monsoon!

It has begun pouring cats and dogs everywhere. Everyone is stuck in this mad rush of getting up, going to office and then coming back home drenched late at night. Slowly we begin grumbling about the rain and how it affects our daily commute and dampens our life. But no one realizes how beautiful the rains are! You just need to break away from your stressful lives and go to a place where you can experience the rain from a very natural perspective, away from our big and polluted cities. And when it comes to such places, Ooty is heaven on earth.

Ooty or Ootacamund is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills. Udhagamandalam is the official Tamil name for the town. Ooty stands at an approximate height of 7,500 feet (2, 286 m) above sea level. Its stunning beauty and splendid green deep valleys made the British name it "Queen of Hill Stations".

Ooty is well connected with rail and road routes. It is situated within a day’s journey from Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Mysore. The town also has direct bus services to various cities and towns of  TamilNadu,namely Tirupur,Erode, Salem, Sathyamangalam, Karur, Dindigul, Chennai, Thiruchirapalli, Madurai, Thanjavur and Kanyakumari. Trains towards Ooty are also very well established but they are very few since there is a track change involved. Also, there is no civilian airport in Ooty, the nearest being at Coimbatore. So the best way to get there is to get to Coimbatore and then carry on to Ooty.

The main attractions of Ooty besides the idyllic natural existence and life changing vistas are:

Ooty Botanical Gardens:

The Botanical Garden is a lush green and well maintained Botanical garden. A flower show along with an exhibition of rare plant species is held every year at this garden. The garden also has a 20 million year old fossilized tree. One can find a diverse variety of flora, ranging from rare trees like the cork tree, the paper bark tree, and the monkey puzzle tree, flowering bushes and plants, fern house consists of ferns and orchids.

Ooty Lake & Boat House:

This is an artificial lake. It used to be much larger than its present size of 4 km² and is 2.5 km in length, and encompassed the present bus stand and race course as well as much of the present market. Boating is the major attraction at the lake. The boat rise allows visitors to enjoy the serene environs at a laid-back pace.

Stone House

This was the first "Pukka" house in Ooty. It is situated inside the premises of the Government Arts College. It now houses the government office.

Toda Huts

There are a few number of Toda Huts up in the hills of Botanical Garden were Todas still dwell.

Railway Station

This is a important junction for The Nilgiri Railways. It is very clean and well maintained.

St. Stephen's Church

This one of the oldest churches in the town, it architecture is essentially old style with tall spires. It is located near the District Court house building.

Wax World, Ooty

A wax museum that houses life-size look-alike wax statues of personalities of Indian history, culture and heritage housed in a 142 year old bungalow.

Ooty Golf Links

It is a forested and grassy area, partially home to a golf course.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there now and stay a week or two and experience bliss like never before. Please post your ‘Jiyo Life Moments’ stories and share with the rest of the world so that they too can experience this heaven on earth.

Jiyo Life this monsoon in Munnar

The monsoons are here & we should all be out there trying to make the most of it. Some of you will play football in the rains, while some will go trekking . There are some who enjoy having a cup of tea with some hot bhajiyas. Now we will tell how to make this monsoon more special by visiting one of the beautiful places we have here in India. The place is Munnar. Now don’t tell us that you have never heard of this place!

The name Munnar is derived from the words munnu aar . Munnu meaning three while aar meaning rivers. Situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala in Idukki district of Kerala, the place has become one of the hottest tourist destinations in India. Placed at height of 2000 to 2600 meters above sea level, the climate here is fantastic. The air is crisp, clear and unpolluted & the temperature normally hovers between 0°C - 25° Celsius. The place was once a summer destination of the erstwhile British Government in South India.

Munnar is full of greenery and mist and once you visit there you will be greeted by miles and miles of tea gardens. It has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi. Towering over 2695 meters the place is an ideal location for trekkers. An exotic flower, Neelakurinji blooms every 12  years & bathes the hill in blue color. The Nilgiris, which means the blue mountain received its name from this flower.

Here are some of the must visit places in Munnar this monsoon:

Rajamala: This place is situated 2695 meters above sea level & is about 15 kms from Munnar. It is famous for the Nilgiri Tahrs which is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. An endangered species, more than half of these thars or goats, about 1300, can be found over here.

Eravikulam National Park:
Situated in Devikulam taluka of Idukki district, this 97 sq.km. park is home of the Nilgiri Tahrs. The Anamudi peak is situated in the southern part of this park. The place is covered with evergreen trees which makes it beautiful and is one of the best mountain ranges that we have in India.

Pothamedu:  This place offers an excellent view of the vast tea, cardamom and coffee plantations in Munnar. It is ideal for mountain walk as it offers a view of the lush green beautiful hills and mountains. Nature at its best.

Matutupetty: Around 13 kms from Munnar & 1700 meters from sea level this place is famous for the Indo-Swiss live stock project. Visitors are allowed into three of the eleven cattle sheds where you will find over 100 varieties of high yielding cattle being reared. There is also the Mattupetty Lake & Dam which is a favorite picnic spot.

 Nyayamakad:
Located between Munnar and Rajamala, Nyayamakad has some beautiful and breathtaking waterfalls some of which are at a height of 1600 meters. The scenic surroundings will make you mesmerize in natures wonder.

Pallivasal :
Again a place with some awesome scenery, this place also has the first Hydro Electric Project in Kerala.

Attukal :
Located between Munnar and Pallivasal, the place has some of the best views of the waterfalls. Watch the Attukkal waterfalls where white foaming water descends down from a great height and creates cloud of mist. Attukal is also one of the most photographed attractions of Munnar. 

Chithirapuram:
Home to the Pallivasal Hydel Power Project, this is a sleepy town with old cottages and bunglows which gives it a distinct charm. There are also spice nurseries owned by the Kerala Spice Board.

Lock Heart Gap:
Located 13 km from Munnar this place is famous for adventure tourism and trekking. If you want to spend some priceless moments of solitude this is the place to be.

Devikulam:
Located 7 km from Munnar this place is famous for the Sita Devi Lake, where it is believed that Lord Rama and Goddess Sita took bath thus consecrating the water with curative powers. You can also find bluish and red rubber trees here.

That’s all about Munnar. Do visit, enjoy your monsoon and Jiyo Life.


image courtesy: binbrain.com/wikimedia commons

Be the change this WE Day & Jiyo Life

Our mother earth takes care of us in her own way & is it not our moral and social duty to protect her?
Yes it is. That is why we want you to be the change & bring the change this World Environmental Day (WED) which will be celebrated on June 5 across the world.

What is WED?
Our planet has been annually celebrating World Environmental Day (WED) since 1972. World Environmental Day is organized by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) with a different theme every year & selecting a host country which is setting an example by its green initiatives.

The theme for WED 2010 is, “Many Species, One Planet, One Future” & the host country is the East African nation, Rwanda. There are more than 10 million species in this world out of which only 2 million have been identified yet. Out of this 2 million, about 17,291 species are on the verge of extinction from little insects to rare mammals. Some even get extinct before they are discovered.

What You Can Do: World Environment Day may be just other day in the calendar that passes of like all other days. But in a technologically advanced world like today, people are getting isolated it is a good opportunity to connect with others and our own planet.

You Can,

•   Plant trees with your family or local community members.
•   Stop unnecessary wastage of fuel. Start using scooters or walk to your office at least twice a day. This way you will not only reduce carbon emissions but also improve your health too!
•   Rely on energy efficient bulbs in your home.
•   Stop using plastic bags & start using recyclable bags or make your own bag with your old cloths.
•   Save water. Water has become so precious these days; it is said that the next world war will be fought for cause of water.
• Stop throwing garbage in public places and make the environment clean.

These are some basic tips. There are lots more which you can do it yourself.
Jiyo Life this World Environment Day people. Cheers.

image courtesy: Wikimedia commons

Rid Yourself of stress & Jiyo Life yaar

What is it?? Stress is a condition or a phenomenon wherein a person suffers from exhaustion, irritability, inability to concentrate, dizziness, nausea, chest pain, rapid beating of heart etc. due to failure to respond appropriately to physical or emotional threats which leads to a health breakdown. Now this threat may be actual or imaginative.

The term ‘stress’ was first coined by endocrinologist Hans Selye in 1930.

Why is it bad??

Stress is a very personal problem. A person can have stress because:

·         He is not satisfied with his job

• ·         Family problems
• ·         Money matters
• ·         Tension due to an upcoming exam
• ·         Low self esteem and self confidence & many more.

As mentioned in the first part stress can lead to low concentration, low social interaction, rapid beating of heart ultimately leading to a heart attack.

So how can you get rid of it??

There is no solution to completely escape stress. However, you can make use of the following tips to avoid it.

Talk: As a popular ad says “baat karnay sey hi baat banti hai”. Whatever problems you may be facing, share it with your loved ones. They may be your parents, your best friends, your car driver, your professor, they can be anyone. It actually works. Just Share.

Write: There may be cases where a person may not be comfortable with ‘talking it out’ because they may be afraid or they just don’t want the other person to know it.

Writing is what you can do. You can start your own blog or maintain a dairy. If you love poetry, try writing one. See how your mind gets refreshed!

Get a pet: It has been proven that having a pet in your house can do wonders for one’s health. The pet can be  a dog, a cat, even a pet lizard, as long as you love it!

Music: There is no one on earth who is does not like music. Listening to your favourite tracks has been proven to be a great stress buster. There are different genres of music like rock, trance, pop etc. So go on and grab your headphones.

Laughter: ahahahahaha.hahahahahahahaahahahahaa.

Laughing out loud is one of the best stress busters one can make use of. Just laugh out loud. Crack silly jokes. Irritate people with your jokes, join laughing clubs, play a few pranks. just go ahahahahahahahaha.

Be Positive: Never ever underestimate yourself. Be positive in whatever it is that you do. 

All in all, as the title suggests, destress and Jiyo Life!

Jiyo Life in Coorg this summer

The summers in India are the time of year when you need to pick and choose your summer travel destinations wisely. After all, you go on holiday to have a good time with your friends and family out in the open, rather than in the confines of an air conditioned room. To help make your decision a little easier, Jiyo Life will try and introduce you to some really cool places to beat the heat this summer.


Coorg (Kodagu) is the south-western district of Karnataka bordering Kerala. It is situated on the western mountainous region of South India, and as a result enjoys moderate climate even in the summers. The summers are only slightly warm at 25-30 degrees Celsius. Add to that the scenic beauty - lush green valleys, coffee plantations, teak wood forests and majestic mountain ranges and you have the magic potion for a great summer holiday.


In Coorg,there is something for everyone. For the adventurous at heart, conceding its location and by extension, its greenery, there are trekking, golfing and angling options available. The religious ones can visit the beautiful Hindu and Buddhist temples. Family getaways can be easily arranged. Relaxation of the complete body and mind is facilitated through special Ayurvedic massages. 


But primarily, Coorg is the place to connect with nature. If you are the kind who is happiest enjoying the tiniest incidents and romancing the briefest moments, like the tingle of the cool and gentle breeze, the fluttering of the leaves in dance-like movements and the sounds of birds filling the mountain air, then Coorg is just the place to Jiyo your Life!


Following is a brief description of some of the must see places in Coorg:


Madikeri 
The capital of Coorg is also called the Scotland of India. It has enchanted millions of travelers with its misty hills, lush forests, coffee plantations and breath taking views. 


Kakkabe
Lots of Honey farms, in fact this place is the largest producer of honey in South East Asia. Also houses the most important temple in all of Coorg, the Padi Igutappa temple.


Omkareshwara Temple
Known for its architecture, this is a catholic mix of Keralite, Gothic and Islamic architectural styles and was built in 1820 by King Lingarajendra. A must see.


Cauvery Nisargadhama 
This 2.5 sq. km. large island in the middle of the River Cauvery, is a great place to spend some intimate moments with your loved one. 


Triveni Sangam at Bhagamandala & Telecauvery
At the convergence of the rivers Cauvery, the underground Sujyothi and the Kanike is the Bhangandeshwara temple. Because of the three rivers, it is also called Triveni Sangama. The serene temple has intricate carvings and a copper roof. A dip at the Triveni Sangam nearby is supposed to revive sagging spirits, but take prior permission at the temple.
Also check out the view from Brahmagiri, the source of the sacred Cauvery, which is 1535 meters above sea level.


Nagarahole National Park
Nagarahole (Snake River in Kannada)was created from a former raja’s hunting grounds. Nagarahole is one of the best game sanctuaries in South India, providing natural living conditions to several wild animals like elephants, tigers, panthers, rhinos and wild elephants, but one is more likely to see smaller game. It is a little difficult to reach, which makes it quieter than other parks. This in turn makes it a great place to relax. Jungle safaris are available as elephant rides. 


So, that’s all about Coorg. Enjoy your stay there this summer.

Image Courtesy-Wikimedia Commons

Jiyo Life this World Family Day and win!

After showering all our mothers with love this Mother’s Day, it’s now time for the entire family to be a part of the TLC(Tender Loving Care). Rejoice! It is World Family Day!

Every year, May 15 is celebrated as the International Day of the Family. It was founded by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993. This is the perfect day for celebration with your family.

This is your opportunity to make up for all those days you spent at work, or with your friends, instead of at home with the ones who love you the most. This is that one day that you need to give your family, so as to foster togetherness and bonhomie amongst all the members of the family. All the members can share their happiness and sorrow with each other. Today especially in the global era, the whole world requires to be like one family and thereby one can understand their culture, respect their faith, and can create an environment of mutual understanding.

What is a family?

In case you are having trouble deciding who should be a part of the celebrations today, Jiyo Life will help you out by defining the ‘Family’ for you.

According to Murdock, an anthropologist, a family is "a group characterized by common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship, and one or more of their children of their own or adopted by the sexually cohabiting adults."

So, your family could be you, your wife and children. It could also be you, your parents and siblings. Your grandparents, aunts, uncles, distant cousins all constitute a part of your family, as defined by the great Murdock. Simply put, the more, the merrier. Enjoy your day out.

And while you’re at it, you can win some cool prizes as well, courtesy Jiyo Life. Just upload pictures of your day out with your family on our facebook page here , and the picture with the maximum number of family members in it wins a holiday to a Club Mahindra Resort with your family! Also, cool consolation prizes to be won.

So, have a great time and remember, when we say ‘The More, the Merrier’, we mean it.

Jiyo Life!