Bhutan really is Shangrila!
Instead of Gross National Product, the Bhutanese government is focusing on “the pursuit of Gross National Happiness.” There’s a concept we could all embrace. Of course, everyone is responsible for their own happiness; what the government aims to do is to adopt programs — from agriculture to foreign trade – which will be judged by the happiness they produce. There is a very complicated formula to measure success based on the four pillars of a happy society (the economy, culture, the environment and good goverance), nine domains and 72 indicators of happiness. Ever since the Bhutanese government allowed television into the kingdom a decade ago, the unique identity of the country has been inperil. According to Kinley Dorji, secretary of information and communication, “Gross national happiness is survival; how to counter a treat to survival”.
We’d love to hear from people who have been to Bhutan, who could share their adventures with our listeners.
