New Delhi, May 19: Thought leaders and policy experts at the Philanthropic Forum 2026 called for the development of an India-specific happiness index rooted in the Purushartha doctrine the four aims of human life drawn from ancient Indian scriptures — arguing that Western measures of well-being fail to fully capture the depth of Indian social and cultural realities.
The proposed framework measures happiness through the balanced pursuit of Dharma (meaning and duty), Artha (security and prosperity), Kama (joy and fulfilment), and Moksha (inner freedom). Participants said the model reflects the Indian understanding of happiness not merely as material success, but as a harmony between individual growth, social responsibility, and spiritual well-being.
The forum, jointly organised by the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation and the IM Happiness Foundation, was held on May 15 at the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library, Delhi. The forum brought together voices from academia, philanthropy, governance, and business to discuss the future of Indian philanthropy and the distinct nature of happiness in Indian ethos compared to conventional Western frameworks.
The forum also saw the launch of the IM Happiness – Happiness Index Recognition Awards (HIRA) 2026, to be held in September, which will recognise social impact makers working through the lens of Indian value systems.
Binay Kumar Singh, director, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, highlighted India’s historically compassionate worldview, even during periods of conflict.
“World over, the view is that everything is fair in love and war. It is only in India that we say everything is not fair in war, and no collateral damage is acceptable, even in war,” Singh said.
Aishwarya Jain, founder , IM Happiness Foundation, said the initiative seeks to reconnect modern conversations around happiness and well-being with India’s civilisational wisdom “This is a joint endeavour to integrate core ancient Indian values with modern understandings of happiness and well-being. To accurately measure the happiness of Indians, the methodology must be rooted in Indian culture, principles, and societal structures,” Jain said.
Panelists at the forum collectively argued that artificial intelligence, despite its growing influence, cannot substitute the human element in matters of happiness, empathy, and philanthropy. Experts also viewed that philanthropy is not contingent on resources as even a small act of giving constituting a meaningful contribution.
Several prominent figures shared their insights on how modern philanthropy can align with traditional wisdom to drive sustainable social impact, including Padmasri Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Divye Agarwal, Founder of Binge Labs, Shormistha Ghosh, member of governing body, BRICS and founder In Tandem Global consultants, Maitri Devi Sisodia, civil servant and author, Ravi K Dhar, Director, Ashok Sawhney Foundation, Pavan Vijay, Founder, Corporate Professionals, Kalyani Chawla, Founder, Rezon Silverware, and Manisha Rao, Founder, Luxe Café, amongst others.