As I was flipping through the newspaper, my eyes caught a news headline: “IIT Delhi’s New State-of-the-Art Lab Promotes Happiness.” A lab for promoting happiness? That was intriguing! Not discos, weekend outings with friends, or people seeking escape in bars. Not even yoga retreats, which often serve more as a temporary recharge before diving back into the daily grind. But a dedicated lab—an all-in-one solution—now that sounded like a groundbreaking idea!
In a fast-paced world where corporate burnout is alarmingly common, IIT Delhi has introduced a refreshing initiative: a cutting-edge Happiness Lab aimed at fostering emotional well-being and resilience among overstressed students and employees. Housed in the global headquarters of a prominent BPO, this lab seamlessly integrates technology, neuroscience, and timeless wisdom to help individuals manage stress and rediscover joy.
This raises an important question: Should stressful workplaces across the globe replicate such models? Should we make happiness as much a corporate metric as performance?
The Science of Inner Calm
According to The Times of India, the lab combines elements like virtual reality (VR)-based stress-busting sessions, immersive soundscapes, and even neurofeedback tools to help employees monitor and manage their stress levels. Additionally, the lab offers workshops on emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and journalling—key skills that enable individuals to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves.
This isn’t just corporate wellness—it’s a scientific approach to inner calm. And it beautifully echoes the message of the Bhagavad Gita.
Echoes of the Gita in Modern Halls
Lord Krishna, in the Bhagavad Gita, repeatedly emphasises the importance of equanimity and self-awareness. In Chapter 2, Verse 48, He says:
“योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥”
“Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.”
The Gita teaches that true happiness does not arise from external success but from internal balance. The Happiness Lab is, in many ways, a manifestation of this truth—using modern tools to bring ancient wisdom into action.
When I was working, stressful times were not uncommon. Back then, we didn’t have happiness labs, but people found their own ways to de-stress. When my children were younger, one of my favourite ways to unwind was creating funny, imperfect crayon drawings with them. The sheer fun of it would spark laughter, instantly lifting my mood. Later, we turned to fiction, TV shows, and other small escapes. Everyone has their own unique ways of coping.
Starting the day with a morning walk, soaking in the positive energy of Puja, and using wit and humour instead of flaring up when things go wrong—these, too, are powerful ways to relieve stress.
One of my former Managing Directors seemed to have mastered the art of staying calm. It was as if he had taken a vow never to lose his temper. No matter how he felt inside, he always appeared composed.
How I wish I had something like a moodometer—a device developed in a lab like this—to gauge whether it was the right time to pitch an idea! He had what I’d call a jellyfish approach—if he didn’t like an idea, he wouldn’t reject it outright. Instead, he’d send it back with ten questions. You’d answer them, and more would follow—until you either perfected your idea or gave up in exhaustion. It reminded me of a defensive table tennis player, skilfully returning every shot with a spin, never getting stressed himself but fully capable of stressing you out!
Perhaps we need a lab for handling such situations, too!
A Cultural Shift in the Making?
The initiative is part of a larger movement within organisations to prioritise mental health. Yet, many workplaces still see emotional well-being as secondary to output. The Gita offers a reminder that lasting success is rooted in self-mastery:
“उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥” (Chapter 6, Verse 5)
“One must elevate, not degrade, the self by the self. The self alone is friend, and the self alone is enemy.”
By investing in employee happiness, organisations empower individuals to become their own allies—more creative, more resilient, and more humane. I witnessed this firsthand during my work with Danida, the Danish bilateral aid programme. Several factors contributed to this impact—one being that the programme was designed to uplift the poor with dignity and active participation. It followed a demand-driven, participatory approach, ensuring community involvement at every stage.
I was responsible for the water and sanitation sector and watershed development. The most fulfilling aspect was seeing tangible results within months—achieved not merely for the people but with them. They weren’t just beneficiaries; they were partners in their own development, working within the framework of Panchayati Raj, with a strong emphasis on building the capacity of village functionaries. This approach fostered an unparalleled sense of zeal and commitment among the staff engaged in the work.
The joy was shared—on our team’s faces and, most importantly, on the faces of the people whose lives were transformed when a project was completed. Whenever I met my former colleagues in the Central Water Commission and WAPCOS, they would ask about my work. I would simply smile and say, “You are planning big things, and I am implementing small ones.”
Yet, all of this happened without a Happiness Lab—simply by working differently, without directly challenging existing systems. The point I’m making is that if the political class, administration, and implementers could shift their mindset from being owners to partners of the people at every stage, they could experience greater happiness—without the need for a lab. But this would require letting go of their ego, which, unfortunately, remains the biggest obstacle.
Should Others Follow?
Absolutely. The workplace stress pandemic is real, and while mental health days help, they are not enough. Replicating Happiness Labs could be the next step in humanising workplaces—not just by reducing stress but by reconnecting individuals with their inner selves, where real happiness lies.
However, for happiness to be sustainable, workplaces must foster an environment where people genuinely love their work—one that prioritises employee well-being and needs. Often, this simply requires working differently, as highlighted earlier. Yet, in today’s highly materialistic and competitive world, such changes alone may not eliminate the need for Happiness Labs. Instead, these labs should become an integral part of organisational systems, ensuring that well-being remains a priority.
As Krishna’s teachings remind us, peace is not found in promotions or paycheques. It is discovered within. And in a world run by metrics, a lab that promotes mindfulness might just be the most meaningful investment of all.
Inspire Positivity 