Indian ‘happiness minister’ wanted over alleged murder
Indian police have launched a manhunt for the country’s only “happiness minister” after the state politician vanished when a court ordered his arrest over an alleged murder.
Lal Singh Arya, whose mandate is to put a smile on the faces of his 70 million constituents, is wanted in connection with the death of an opposition politician in 2009.
This should engage a Billion media consumers for weeks, a ‘slow moving white Bronco’ type of thing.
Well then, I’d say he has fulfilled his mandate so – job done!
Nothing makes people happier than schadenfreude at the misfortunes of others!
I second the above comment.
For some reason I am reminded of the Earth Day co-founder who murdered and composted his girlfriend.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42711922/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/earth-day-co-founder-killed-composted-girlfriend/#.WjQiyYwXDyQ
Damn it……Trudeau will have now seen the “Happiness Minster” position and no doubt will create one in his “government”.
How can anyone “be happy” when they live on dirt floors, and breathe air reeking of death, feces, and burning dung? Yeah … I guess the government NEEDS a bureaucrat to threaten poor people with DEATH if they don’t play along with their lot in life.
How about a Minister of 1st world progress? Minister of poverty eradication? Minister of infrastructure?
Kenji, whatever is making people there unhappy, you don’t really think it’s a shortage of government, do you? You suggested three new Ministers (with Ministries, presumably,)I think that’s at least four too many.
All government Ministers are Ministers of THEFT.
BTW … “happiness” is HIGHLY OVERRATED. I believe searching for “happiness” is much like searching for a girlfriend (or boyfriend) … the harder you TRY … the more frustrated you become. It is almost a universal experience, that when you stop searching … stop trying to FIND a partner … you end up meeting the girl of your dreams … quite accidentally. Looking for and even fabricating “happiness” usually feels quite hollow. But when you get busy with other more tangible pursuits … “happiness” often emerges.
Kenji – I think you would be surprised at how content, if not happy, a lot of “deprived” and “poor” people are; more so than the grasping, greedy, and never-satisfied “privileged” people. Those who have the wisdom to be grateful for what they have, rather than always being bitter about what they do not have, will have the time and the energy to get on with living and – with luck – to improve their lot. Those eaten up with bitterness will, sadly, become so destroyed within that they are unable to grasp an opportunity should one come their way. That is not to say there are no serious problems in India; there are, and they need to be solved. But it is still possible to be “happy” under the most unlikely circumstances.
That being said, it behooves most of us to cultivate a sense of “enoughness”. We don’t need all the “stuff” that’s being peddled; family members are openly saying cut down the gifts and place the emphasis elsewhere this Christmas season and throughout the year.
“Happiness is a warm gun” was his motto.
I don’t know what all the fuss is about? Maybe the Minister of Happiness’ joy in life is murdering people? Who are we to judge?