'Gross National Happiness' concept keeps Bhutan happy:PM

Subhashis Mittra

Thimpu (Bhutan), Nov 6 (PTI) When the whole world is
reeling under the shocks of economic crisis, Bhutan is
apparently unfazed by the global meltdown, thanks to the royal
concept of "Gross National Happiness".

The concept is based on the idea that economic growth
should be balanced by respect for traditions and environment
and not measured in terms of Gross National Product.

The unique concept seeks to balance the needs of the
body with that of mind and the result is that Bhutan has been
enjoying peace, stability and economic growth.

Expaining the idea to visiting journalists, Bhutan's
newly elected Prime Minister Jigme Y. Thinley said that the
government does not make any special effort for this.

"This is someting always in our mind. Every time we
take a policy decision, we ask what effect it will have on the
people. That is, whether it will promote happiness among them.
If the answer is no, we try to find out how to go about it,
whereby there would be happiness. The result is you will find
a good level of happiness among the people here," he said.

Thinley said some people have been appointed by the
government to assess how the people are being served, whether
they were happy.

Bhutan, about the size of Switzerland, is one of the
most insular countries on earth. It had no roads, telephones
or currency until the 1960s, and only allowed television in
1999.

For a remote hermit kingdom, Bhutan has a remarkably
outward-looking ruler in the form of fourth King Jigme Singey
Wangchuck.

Known for his drive toward modernization -- Wangchuck
hooked up the mountainous realm to the Internet and started
Bhutan television. The landlocked country, which calls itself
'The Land of the Thunder Dragon', was never colonised.

For centuries, the Bhutanese relished their isolation,
maintaining a barter economy and allowing few foreigners to
visit. The kingdom's move to democracy began in 2001 when king
Jigme Singye Wangchuck handed over daily government to a
council of ministers and finally stepped down in favour of his
son Jigme Khesar Nagmgyal Wangchuck in late 2006.

Matching the historic coronation of the
king-in-waiting, the capital is wearing a bridal look with
flags and festoon, lights and banners.

From the morning itself a festive mood descended in
the capital as people, wearing traditional "ghos" and "kiras",
made a bee-line to the venue of the coronation where the
fourth king will pass on the mantle to the fifth king.

Another historic moment is the age of democracy in
which the country has just entered. The tiny Buddhist kingdom
had been preparing for democracy since Jigme Singye Wangchuck
decided to hand over power to an elected government.

The country will now be headed by his 28-year-old son,
Namgyal Wangchuck, who will remain as head of the state. "He
is likely to retain some influence," said premier Thinley.

The monarchy remains popular in Bhutan partly because
of its focus on promoting what it calls "gross national
happiness".

Bhutan's one-fifth population lives in poverty and
youth unemployment has risen sharply in recent years.

Thinley, who heads the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (D.P.T.)
or Bhutan United Party, has already pledged to boost
development -- and happiness -- in the Himalayan nation.