What makes them happy?

There are reasons to smile, and not to smile. There is political unrest, economic instability, road accidents, corruption, traffic jams, day to day hardship, pollution, floods and more. But life goes on and people of Dhaka seem happy.

What makes them happy? Different people had different answers to the question. Sometimes they said their children made them happy. Others said self reliance. Some said the mere fact of 'being alive' is enough reason for their beaming faces.

Zia Uddin, 40, lives in Mohammadpur, Dhaka and is from Magura. He sells herbal medicines, pesticides, various kinds of balms and other things in Farmgate, Karwan Bazar and Panthapath.

He said he is happy when he goes out with his family. He has three sons and a daughter. His youngest son Kawsar is the main reason for his happiness. Every night when he returns home, the little boy rushes to him and hangs around him as long as he is home.

Zia said, though extortion and traffic jams in Dhaka disgust him and his earning is meagre, he has no complaints in life. He said having a good family life is enough to make one happy. His said if his children can be well educated, he will be the happiest. "I dream of nothing more," Zia said.

Asad Miah, 63, echoed Zia Uddin's words. He is a vendor, selling peanuts, corn and chickpeas in the Mahanagar area of Hatirjheel. Six of his children are grown-up and busy with their own lives. His wife lives in Tangail and takes care of their land. He said, "I'm happy because I can earn for myself. I don't have to depend on others for my livelihood. It's the most valuable thing for me."

Asad Miah remarked that, people of the country are generally happy because "they have strong family ties." He said, "Even if my relations are on bad terms with me, they will rush to my side if I'm in a crisis. Isn't that enough for a man to be happy"? He added, "I stand here every day, people from different places and of different professions come to buy peanuts and corn from me. Though they are strangers, but they ask after my wellbeing. They don't need to do so, but that's something that certainly makes one smile. "

While we were talking, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver, Md Abdullah, 34, suddenly interrupted us, saying, "Apa, I think health is all. If I'm sick, there is nothing that can make me happy."

Abdullah looked pale and weary, but said he was not actually unwell. "I have not come to the conclusion about good health because I am unwell." He said he has a 9-month-old child. His family lives in Barishal. Does he miss them? "It's okay. When I miss them, I just stop driving and go to them."

Unlike Abdullah, Bilkis Begum, 38, said, one's own happiness is not enough for real happiness. "What if my child or my husband gets sick? I am most unhappy then, no matter how well I may be doing." She said her family's wellbeing is the source of her happiness always.

Not everybody thinks the way Bilkis does. Monirul Islam Manju, 40, is a liftman at a private company at Karwan Bazar, Dhaka. He lives in a mess in Panthapath. His family stays in Bhola.  He has four sons. He said, no matter how fulfilled is your life may be with your spouse, children and everything, if you suddenly die your wife will just marry again, forgetting everything. So happiness is nothing but an illusion.

He said, "I once had a surgery. One of relatives was called on to take care of me. In the night, when I was in a severe condition, he was just busy with himself." When he recovered, did Monirul find life was beautiful? In answer to this, the 'practical' middle aged man said, "Yes. I was happy because I still could breathe. I felt relieved and thought, oh, I'm still alive." He smiled and said, "Everyone including my wife was crying with joy."

There are unusual reasons for being happy too. The family planning ministry of Bangladesh advises having no more than two children. Generally it is a parents' dream to have a daughter and a son. Having two children or even more cannot always ensure that.

So, this man Kamal Uddin, 50, was happy because “I have a son and a daughter. I need nothing more! How many on the earth are that fortunate? Allah gave me that happiness! I value no treasure more than this." He is an office assistant of a private institution in Karwan Bazar. He is a proud father as his children are good students.

Jawhar Chandra Lal Das, 60, from Brahmanbaria is also most happy about his family. He is a cobbler at Karwan Bazar. He lives in Gopibagh. Jawhar said he is happy because his family, especially his wife lives with him. How would he feel if his wife would pay him a surprise visit now? Jowhar's eyes brightened up and he smiled.

His income as a cobbler and a little extra income from the village sustain them in Dhaka. Jawhar said, "I work here all day and when my daughter calls me and asks me how I am, my heart fills up. I feel as if my daughter is by my side, concerned about my wellbeing. All my tiredness just evaporates with the ring of my phone."

Is family the sole reason for all the happiness in life? Apurba, 33, a shop owner in Hatirjheel considers there is something else too. His child and his family were of course a principle reason for his happiness, but independence was important too. He said, "I had earned my diploma engineering degree and secured a job too. But, I didn't feel okay. Everyone wants a job and that is enough for them". His family was happy with this conventional life, but it wasn't for Apurba. He left his job and took up a business of his own.

He set up a shop. With a chuckle, the happy shopkeeper said, 'I'm independent now." This was reflected in his face. Though he cannot go home to his village in Gopalganj often, his family visits him frequently.

What was happiness to nine-year-old Zayeefa? She was brimming with excitement in her red butterfly scarf. She giggled, "This is my cousin's scarf. She is in class nine. I begged her to give it to me because I liked it so much! At last, she allowed me to wear it."

Ratul, an 11-year-old boy from the area, was ready for a football match on the street. He was happy when his favourites won matches in the FIFA World Cup Football. Anything else for a big smile? He quickly said, "I would have been happiest if they had won the Cup!"

Shameem Miah, 50, occasionally plays the flute in Hatirjheel. He does not do it for the money. People enjoy his music. His village is in Habiganj. As to whether he was in a happy mood, he said he was extremely anxious as he had a surgery the next day. "I came here today, just to play my flute once before I go to the hospital. I don't know what will happen then. I may not return". Even then, with his heavy heart, he carried on with his music, making everyone else around him happy.