Gross National Happiness

5th King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Three factors have exerted great influence on the course of Bhutan development. The first being the culture. As Bhutan was never conquered or colonized, the country developed a culture relatively free from outside influence, the institution of monarchy, and a deep sense of nationhood. The second factor is the environment, which is protected by mountainous, often difficult terrain. Thirdly, Vajrayana Buddhism has given the country a view of the world on which the 3rd and 4th Kings based their policies of developing of Bhutan’s potential in every field. This continuing development of Bhutan has been crystallized in a philosophy crafted by His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, known as Gross National Happiness (GNH) in the late 1980s. The concept of the GNH defines Bhutan’s development objective as improvement in the happiness and satisfaction of the people rather than growth of Gross National Product (GNP). GNH has been the over reaching development philosophy of Bhutan as the concept has guided the country’s development policies and programmes. GNH suggests that happiness is the ultimate objective of development. It recognizes that there are many dimensions to development other than those associated with Gross National Product (GNP), and that development needs to be understood as a process that seeks to maximize happiness rather than purely economic growth.

The country believes that for a holistic development of the individual and society, it is essential that development achieve a sustainable balance between the economic, social, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs of the people. This has led to the declared objective of viewing development as a continuous process towards achieving a balance between the material and intangible needs of individuals and society.

The concept reminds the country that the means must always be considered in terms of the end and, therefore, every step in material development and change must be measured and evaluated to ensure that it will lead to happiness, not just more development. Having accepted that the maximization of Gross National Happiness is a philosophy and objective of the country’s development, it was felt necessary to more clearly identify the main areas, and create the condition to enable the people to attain greater happiness. Recognizing that the large range of factors contributes to human well-being and happiness and that it may not be possible to exhaustively define or list everything for the purpose of its development planning, Bhutan has identified four major areas as the main pillars of GNH. These are
• Economic growth and development: If everybody contributed with Jimba (volunteer) actions, working sincerely as a public servant or offering some form of public service, all would reap the benefit of economic progress. Not only would the poor be better off but the lonely would have company.

• Preservation and promotion of culture heritage: Doing jimba (volunteer) is an integral part of Buddhist philosophy. Since the Bhutanese culture is essentially Buddhist, many customs are based on Buddhist ideals. Practicing jimba helps promote Buddhist values, therefore promoting national culture and traditions.

• Preservation and sustainable use of the environment: Performing jimba/public service means taking a holistic view of things, which is thinking beyond ourselves and our time. It is thinking about future generations, about the animals, about the plants, and the environment they live in, or in other words, Mother Nature. Through this mind-set of jimba, we conserve our natural environment.

• And good governance: People who think about doing jimba/public service are guided by sound ethical principles and values like social responsibility. Those doing jimba/public service incorporate and support values and ethical principles by demonstrating accountability, honoring their commitments, and acting in the public interest. This value-oriented and conscious action helps prevent corruption and brings about good governance as they work for the benefit of the country and not for themselves.

Guided by the ideas of Gross National Happiness (GNH), Bhutan has been making steady progress in every sector towards the goal of modernization. Hydroelectric power, economically the most signification sector for Bhutan’s goal of self-sustaining development, has grown impressively. The education, social services and health sector have made great strides forward and continue to be the most important social components of the country’s development programme. The government’s fiscal situation has been improving steadily. Progress has been made in the development of human resource and the legal infrastructure.

Shazam Chham

Shazam Chham

The dance is performed by four dancers wearing knee length silk skirts and stag masks. Guru Rinpochhe subdued the Lung Lha (God of Wind) who was the causing suffering to the people of the world. He rode on the Lung Lha’s stag and restored peace and happiness in the world.

News: Bhutan Police-youth partnership program

Heavy rains did not dampen the spirits of the community policing 50 students in the 15-day police-youth partnership program (PYPP) at Phuentsholing on July 1.

The students, all police officer aspirants, said that they had been eagerly waiting for the programme to come to Phuentsholing after they saw it happen in Thimphu last winter.

An impressive 250 students applied for the programme.

Kickstarting the programme, Chukha dzongda Tshewang Rinzin said that the partnership programme was an ideal plan to occupy youth and let them learn values during breaks. “Youth are the best people to understand their issues and problems related to them,” he said. “Through this partnership, police and youth can help each other best.”

The partnership aims to build a relationship between the public through youth, while it focuses on sensitising young people on relevant legal provisions, and builds trust and confidence in each other to create a forum for an exchange of ideas.

It was also a programme in response to the national challenge of increased youth crimes and to reduce the number of children in conflict with the law, according to police spokesperson, Lt Col Dorji Wangchuk.

Meanwhile, the programme also supplements an initiative of the government to engage youth meaningfully during the summer break.

Participants said they were looking forward to the programme. “It’s interesting that we’ll be visiting the detention centre and prison,” said Ugyen, a participant. “I can see police work and learn what facilities they use or difficulties they face,” said another.

The students will police selected areas, together with policemen, and be given orientation on youth as part of community police, drug eradication, fire and traffic safety programmes.

“Through this programme, we expect youth to be law abiding citizens, we see youth as agents of change and we reduce youth and juvenile crimes,” said Lt Col Dorji Wangchuk.

PYPP was first initiated in 2008, with support from Save the Children US Bhutan program, by the chief of police in Thimphu.

Source: Kuenselonline

Paro National Museum of Bhutan

National Museum (Ta-Dzong). This was actually the Watch Tower of Paro Rinpung Dzong. It was converted to the National Museum in 1968.

The National museum accumulated more and more objects from different parts of the country and is today a storehouse of Bhutan's cultural and traditional treasures. Over thirteen galleries, each exhibits from different periods and places in the country, the National Museum of Bhutan takes pride in its effort to educate its visitors, be they local or foreign, about the country's cultural history that date back to as early as 2000 B.C and its metamorphism over the ages into what it is today.

It’s not only as a huge tourist attraction but also as an institution of learning for both scholars and visitors, considering the history of the building.

The Paro National Museum has 6 floor and description are as follows:

Ground Floor: Galleries of ancient arms, urns, bronze and copper vessels, epigraph and wooden containers.

1st Floor: Galleries of cane and bamboo containers, urns, horn containers and farming appliances.

2nd Floor: Galleries of natural History and Buddhist ritual objects.

3rd Floor: Galleries of ancient tea pots, wine containers, jewelry, numismatics, evolution of men and women’s dresses, tribal dresses, charm boxes, wooden cups and personalize gallery of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.

4th Floor: Galleries of Pre-History and early history of Bhutan, Life and Legacy of Pema Lingpa and Pha Drung Drung, Costumes of Regional dancers, Manuscripts, Images and Arms and Armour.

5th Floor: Galleries of Medieval Bhutan, Thangkas, bronzes, slate carvings and Chapel of the Wealth Deity.

6th Floor: Galleries of Philately of Bhutan, photoplates of dzongs, Thangkas and Chapel of the Three Dimensional Mandala.

News: The WFP, in collaboration with Bhutan post

The world food program (WFP), in collaboration with Bhutan post, launched yesterday a series of postal stamps, which reflect their support to various sectors in Bhutan.

The stamps were launched in Thimphu as WFP celebrated its 35th anniversary.

The stamps depict portraits of children in remote schools holding red cups – symbolising challenges faced by WFP and their activities such as school feeding, logistics and support to the school agriculture programme, road workers and power tiller tracks.

The chief executive officer of Bhutan Post, Tseten Geltsen, said that the set of stamps reflects the successful implementation of WFP in providing assistance in the form of food, supply of fuel efficient stoves and infrastructure, such as stores and hostels to school children in various parts of the country, making a huge difference to the lives of Bhutanese people.

“It not only gives a tinge of excitement to stamp collectors but also educates the mass and draws attention of partners of their support, generosity, cooperation and education,” said the CEO.

School feeding has been a major activity since the start of WFP assistance in 1974, with increased enrollment and attendance as their main goals.

In 2008, WFP utilised around USD 4m – donations received – in purchasing food commodities and for other assistance, such as construction of hostel and purchasing fuel-efficient stoves for schools.

An additional USD 0.44m and 2 MT of vegetable oil was received in January this year, which not only secures food commodities to last till 2009 end, but supports 38,000 children from rural and remote schools to attend classes. WFP also plans to deliver at least around USD 0.2m worth of non-food assistance this year, mainly to encourage girls to attend school and complete basic education.

“The net primary enrollment rate over the last ten years has increased from an estimated 53 percent in 1998 to 88 percent in 2008,” according to WFP officials.

The WFP representative, Leo Van Der Velden said that WFP would phase out the school feeding programme at high school level by 2012 and focus on the primary level to develop the capacities within the government to take over the school feeding program.

Source: Kuenselonline