uest for happiness runs as a recurrent theme in man's physical and mental endeavours since the beginning of recorded history. On the one hand, it has led him to invent labour saving devices like the wheel and the lever to reduce his drudgery. Alternatively, he has discovered and developed various ways and means to amuse himself. Sports, music, dance and fine arts have added enormously to his capacity for enjoying himself. But freedom from pain and titillation of the senses do not exhaust man's quest for happiness. The prosperous and healthy man, who has access to all physical comforts and cultural refinements, has not conquered happiness. He still finds plenty of occasions to be unhappy.
As a matter of fact, fulfillment of basic needs is a necessary but not sufficient condition for man's happiness.Had it been so, men living in developed countries like Sweden, U.S.A. and Japan, who satisfy their basic needs, would have slowed down their efforts for progress. On the contrary, we find them working at a feverish pitch to develop new technology to improve their material conditions and to evolve better institutions to enhance their quality of life. May be the real search for happiness begins when man is no longer bothered about the provision of food, shelter and clothes.
A certain dissatisfaction with his present lot is almost a permanent characteristic of man. It stirs him to engage in harder efforts to improve his iot. Philosophers have sometimes termed this tendency as a 'divine discontent'. This discontent is responsible for 'rags to riches' stories of men all over the world.
Thus we find Abraham Lincoln journeying through his life from 'a log cabin to the White House' by dint of hard work. He had to study in the light of street lamps as his parents could not afford expenses of lighting inside their house. Lal Bahadur Shastri, one of the most widely respected Prime Ministers of India, had to swim across a river daily to reach his school as he could not afford the expenses of a boat ride. Steady and continuous efforts leading to success often constitute the road to happiness. Many thinkers, therefore, believe that happiness is development, not pleasure.
