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Is India a happy nation?

India placed 140th out of 156 on a United Nations list that ranks countries on happiness. So, why the grim faces?

India is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, and yet, Indians don’t seem to be all that happy.

It is placed 140th out of 156 on a United Nations list that ranks countries on happiness.

So, why the grim faces? Are Indians able to laugh at themselves or do they take themselves too seriously?

We sit down in a swanky pub near Delhi with some of India’s top comedians and satirists and ask them what it’s like working as a comedian in India. Do they feel free to poke fun at sensitive issues around Indian society and politics, or are they concerned about how audiences might react?

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Aditi Mittal, stand-up comic; Akash Banerjee, political satirist; Rajneesh Kapoor, stand-up comic; Sweta Mantrii, stand-up comic

Image: Senior citizens perform various laughing exercises during an event to mark World Laughter Day (Credit: Kalpak Pathak/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

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24 minutes

Last on

Fri 10 May 2019 15:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Fri 10 May 2019 15:32GMT

Podcast