India's second 100% literate state, Mizoram, boasts happy and casteless society
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In a recent study conducted by Rajesh K Pillania, professor of strategy at the Management Development Institute in Gurugram, Mizoram has been declared the happiest state in India. The state, which is the second in the country to achieve 100 per cent literacy, has been praised for offering its youth opportunities for growth even in the most difficult of circumstances.
The happiness index in Mizoram was based on six parameters, including family relationships, work-related issues, social issues and philanthropy, religion, COVID-19's effect on happiness, and physical and mental health. Despite a high number of broken families in the state, and the report found that Mizoram's social structure contributes to the happiness of its youth. The community is casteless, and parental pressure for studies is less here, said Sister Lalrinmawii Khiangte, a teacher at Eben-ezer Boarding School, a private school in the state.
The report highlighted the case of two students at the Government Mizo High School (GMHS) in Aizawl, Mizoram, who are pursuing their dreams despite facing many difficulties. One student, whose father abandoned his family when he was young, remains optimistic and excels in his studies. He hopes to become a chartered accountant or appear for civil services exams if his first choice does not work out. Another student in Class 10 at GMHS aspires to join the National Defence Academy (NDA). His parents work in a milk factory, and his mother is a homemaker. However, both are hopeful about their prospects because of their school.
The teachers in Mizoram regularly meet with students and their parents to address any problems they may be facing. "Our teachers are our best friends; we are not scared or shy of sharing with them anything," said one student.
The report also noted that every child in the Mizo community, regardless of gender, starts earning early. "No task is considered too small, and youths typically find employment around the age of 16 or 17. This is encouraged, and there is no discrimination between girls and boys," it said. This financial independence from an early age means children are not left bereft, even in the case of broken families.
Overall, the study showed that Mizoram's youth are happy, optimistic, and determined to pursue their dreams, despite facing many challenges. This bodes well for the future of the state and the country as a whole.