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New Delhi : Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurated “Ānandam: The Center for Happiness” virtually on March 30, 2021, at Indian Institute of Management Jammu . Lieutenant Governor, Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha; Founder, Art of Living Foundation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ,virtually graced the ocaasion. Dr Milind Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, presided over the event. Prof. B S Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, was also present.
Speaking on the occasion,Pokhriyal congratulated IIM Jammu for the new venture and defined the need for Ānandam: The Center for Happiness. He said that incorporating happiness in the academic curriculum of students is a very crucial step towards empowering our nation. This step will take our education system to newer heights, similar to the times of ancient Indian universities like Nalanda and Takshashila. He explained how ‘Anandam: The Center for Happiness’ aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 that aims to transform India’s education system by 2021. He concluded his speech by encouraging other institutions in the country to have their own center for happiness to help students live a stress-free life, according to a PIB release.
Pokhriyal said that the students and faculty tend to undergo stress due to deadlines, coursework, teaching-load, and professional and personal life pressure. This tends to result in depression and anxiety amongst the teachers as well as students. Hence, the center will help people overcome mental stress and help spread positivity and it will encourage and propagate holistic development for all the stakeholders at IIM Jammu, he added.
He further said that the purpose of establishing ‘Ānandam’ at Indian Institute of Management Jammu is to bring holistic well-being. Regular physical exercises at the Center will contribute to the wellness at the physical level for both the students and the faculty, he added. Pokhriyal further informed that the Center envisions that all shall attain the state of ānanda through conscious efforts. There are going to be practices for breathing exercises like prāṇāyāma and mindfulness, which help in enhancing vitality.
The Minister also informed that the prime activities envisaged under the concept of ‘Ānandam: The Center for Happiness’ will be divided into five broad categories, namely, Counselling, Holistic wellness, Elective courses on Happiness Development, Research and Leadership & Faculty Development. The Advisory Board of Experts for the Center comprises experts from academics, research and industry, he added.
Addressing the participants, Sinha provided his idea of happiness wherein he gave an example of neighbouring country, Bhutan, which is ranked very high in the happiness index. He said, “The right way to measure wealth is to measure happiness and not money.”
The Center for Happiness acquires its name ‘Ānandam’ from the Indian wisdom tradition where the pure consciousness is “anandam”. “Ānandam” doesn’t aim for only happiness but knowing the truth, doing good, and enjoying the beauty around. The tagline for “Ānandam” further reinforces its ideology that it will work for the well-being of all.