Panjab University Hosts Lecture on “Evolutionary Perspective on Happiness and Drugs”

Chandigarh, October 29, 2026: Dr. Jagdish Rai, Associate Professor and Chairperson Institute of Forensic Science and Criminology, Panjab University gave an extensive lecture followed by a discussion Session in the Department of English and Cultural Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh on the critical topic of “Evolutionary Perspective on the pursuit of Happiness and Drugs”.

Dr. Jagdish Rai explained how cultural injunctions and imperatives create a perplexing misinformation regime on a natural, healthy lifestyle and how the exploitative consumerism and politics of the 'Happiness Industry' wherein over-prescription of drugs and drug-abuse has become a misguided solution for the suffering beings poses a personal, social and even a national insecurity. He explained how drugs hijack the brain and how humans are hard wired to prevent it, actually. Drug- abuse is a life-threatening behaviour whereas human beings are hard wired to seek out a happy, salubrious, stable life. This natural tendency needs recovery and recuperation through a science-backed method and philosophy, informed by the evolutionary perspective, which can be sculpted further as it offers a functional, real-world applicability.

Dr. Rai fielded several questions from the students as well, who had queries related to personal observation, threat of drugs, how to counter the temptation and also deeper research questions on how to tackle prejudices. He quoted WHO report which counters the popular misconception that drugs might enhance any performance or productivity and urged the students to subscribe to fact-based information and eschew notions formed due to heresy or viral communications, especially on drugs.

Dr Jagdish Rai’s research-based scientific and logical explanations not only helped the students understand the issue at hand, but also became an educational experience on how scientists tackle learning outcomes, research questions and that the bridge between the sciences and Arts was a necessary, vital one to arrive at solutions which will have a deeper social impact.  The faculty also participated in the discussion, the session was organised and chaired by Dr. Surbhi Goel.