In Break Open The Sky, Steve Bauman describes the opening scene of Happy, a documentary that explores the nature of happiness, where we meet Manoj Singh, a rickshaw driver from India. He lives with his wife and three children in a one-room home constructed of rusted corrugated metal held together with plastic tarps. When asked about his life, he said, "I am not poor, but I am the richest person." He proudly talks about his work as a rickshaw driver in the crowded streets, the monsoons, sweltering heat, and occasional abuse from drunk passengers as mere inconveniences. He said his home is "good" even though it doesn't protect his family from the monsoons. Sometimes they can afford only rice with a bit of salt. "But we are still happy," he said.

Stunning. How could Manoj say he is happy when, from our perspective, the most basic elements of happiness are absent? Manoj and his family function near the bottom caste in a country that claims it has graduated from such a system. They are eking out a living amid grinding poverty. Their home is ramshackle, exposed, without title or deed. There is no running water or sanitation to speak of Manoj's kids have little chance for quality education. Any disruption-drought, illness, economic downturn-could sabotage their very chance of survival.

But somehow in the midst of all this, Manoj is happy.