The Indian Institute of Madras has partnered with Rekhi Foundation to establish the Centre of Excellence for the Science of Happiness.

This Centre will work towards integrating happiness studies into the academic curriculum and advance research and education in the science of happiness.

The Rekhi Foundation for Happiness is a nonprofit trust that aims to expand the practice and knowledge of “Happiness Science and Positive Psychology” through setting up happiness centers in various universities. They have collaborated with universities and set up several happiness science centers across six countries.

Coming up in the Department of Management Studies (DoMS), IIT Madras, this Centre of Excellence will focus on several areas including integrating happiness studies into the academic curriculum.

With this initiative, IIT Madras is advancing research and education in the science of happiness, recognizing its crucial role in holistic learning and personal growth. The centre will focus on developing and delivering courses that empower students to cultivate positivity, build emotional resilience, and lead purposeful lives.

Additionally, it will offer hands-on learning experiences through a dedicated Mind Lab, equipped with cutting-edge tools to deepen practical understanding and application.

Prof V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “the objective of this initiative should be to cultivate an ideal student-faculty environment, reinforcing the idea that true learning and holistic personal growth extend beyond academic scores.”

Dr Satinder Singh Rekhi, Founder, Rekhi Foundation for Happiness, said, “Happy people are more successful,” reinforcing his philosophy that whatever one does unhappily, he or she can do better happily. He also spoke about the “Monkey Brain” – a restless, anxious mind that leads to stress and unhappiness.

Dr Rekhi delivered a keynote address on “Is Your Monkey Brain Making You Unhappy?” to students at IIT Madras. In his talk, he emphasized the importance of observing one’s thoughts, explaining that thoughts can shape perceptions and make people believe them to be real, even when they are not.

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