|
More than 80 participants from across the globe converged
to discuss the depth and profundity of the concept of Gross
National Happiness. GNH combines spirituality with
secular science of technology and that the global community
should protect and enhance it. GNH was first pronounced
the King of Bhutan in 1972, yet only in
the last two decades was the concept formally incorporated
as a guiding principle in development policies and plans,"
said the president of the Centre for Bhutan Studies and
prime minister Lyonpo Jigmi Y Thinley. "While conventional
development models stress economic growth as the ultimate
objective, the concept of GNH is based on the premise that
true development of human society takes place when material
and spiritual development occur side by side to complement
and reinforce each other," he said.
Four pillars of GNH are the
1. Promotion of equitable and sustainable socio-economic
development
2. Preservation and promotion of cultural values
3. Conservation of the natural environment
4. Establishment of good governance
Comparing GNH to the western conservative, liberal and
socialist ideologies, Professor [Mark] Mancall said that
GNH is an ideology, a program of social and economic change
and development. "If GNH is an ideology, the Bhutanese
State is and must be the 'subject,' the primary actor in
the program of change that we call GNH," said the Professor.
A paper by Dr Prabhat Pankaj and Tshering Dorji, lecturers
at Sherubtse college in Kanglung presented their findings
of the field survey of 612 individuals which used econometric
technique to measure happiness. "Our study found out
that the rural people are slightly happier than the urban
ones and that cultural participation and identity have emerged
as the strongest variable influencing happiness both in
rural and urban areas," said Dr Pankaj. "We also
found that religious people tend to happier."
His Highness the Crown Prince Dasho Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck,
who graced the closing of the seminar, said that even if
the philosophy of GNH is inherently Bhutanese, its ideas
may have a positive relevance to any nation, community or
peoples.
"I feel that there must be some convergence among
nations on the idea of what the primary objective of development
and progress should be - something that GNH seeks to bring
about," he said. "There cannot be enduring peace,
prosperity, equality and brotherhood in this world if our
aims are so separate and divergent especially as the world
shrinks to a global village."
http://www.kuenselonline.com/article.php?sid=3765
|