Teeny Tiny Bhutan and a great big concept...

In 1972 Jigme Singye Wangchuck was crowned king of the small Buddhist kingdom Bhutan. He declared that rather than an interest in further development of his nation through GNP (Gross National Product) he created GNH which stands for Gross National Happiness. In other words he felt that public policy should include the well being of his people. The Bhutanese attempt to measure GNH through four essential pillars and nationwide questionnaire assessment.

THE FOUR PILLARS OF GNH

1. Cultural promotion
Stresses the promotion of religion, language, literature, are, architecture, sports and traditional etiquette.

2. Equitable economic development
Stresses the improvement of social and economic health through various services such as health, education, trade, employment and urban development.

3. Good governance
Stresses a democratic culture

4. Environmental conservation
Stresses conservation of the environment.

Some say that GNH is a naive romanticism. Others criticize it as a concept that is not all that different or modified from conventional approaches. The Bhutanese acknowledge that GNH is still being refined and it is acknowledged that not everyone in Bhutanis happy. Poverty still exists as well as and other extremes.

The Prime Minister explains that the goal is not happiness itself but a concept that one must define for themselves.

Kinley Dorji, secretary of information and communications says that “democracy and G.N.H. both place responsibility on the individual. Happiness is an individual pursuit and democracy is the empowerment of the individual.”

So, is this tiny Himilayan kingdom on to something? Well GNH is expanding even though it is simsimultaneously being tweaked and refined. One main reason that GNH is beginning to be accepted is that GNP was never meant to focus on personal well being. Additionally there is much attention being given to the economic crisis of the United States and other dire areas.

Because I do not live in Bhutan there is no way to know how it is panning out. But what intrigues me is that the concept of happiness is in the forefront. People who claim to be happy or unhappy often must work towards forms of contentment and forms of maintenance. Even though I have my own questions about GNH and how one can follow it and also decide for themselves what happiness is....I tip my hat to their effort. After all...if your own government is promoting happiness and if local communities are striving for the same how can one not be influenced by positive attitudes and energy?