No other country does the government observe happiness the basis of government policy; but only in this Himalayan kingdom sandwiched between India and Tibet measures its progress not in Gross Domestic Product but in Gross National Happiness (GNH).
A brainchild of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 1972, GNH is used as a measurement of sustainable economic development, environmental conservation, promotion of cultural values and good government.
“GNH is not about happiness,” said Kinley Dorji, managing director of Kuensel, Bhutan’s national newspaper.
“As Buddhists, we believe happiness is an individual pursuit, gained from looking inside rather than outside. GNH is a mandate of the state to create an environment where citizens can pursue happiness.”
“…growth should reflect what people want,” stated Karma Tshiteem, head of the GHN Commission, “Environment, culture and tradition are the aspects that are important to buddhist people,”
So far, the GNH yielded good results. Bhutan is now the highest per capita income country in South Asia. And as for the people, they feel that their country is on the right track. This is the case for a Bhutanese entrepreneur Palden Tshering who returned home after living for a long time in New York; “We couldn’t live like we can in Bhutan anywhere else in the world.”
Image courtesy of babasteve
