GNH

Gross National Happiness

It's a term that I have been thinking about throughout the night after reading the Star when Idris Jala asked " Can Malaysia Aim To Be Happier?" Can we? Then he reiterated that Malaysian development programmes are focused on producing big results fast; the big example being the NKRA which has been created partly for achieving GNH if and when the crime rate is lowered, cost of living is within grasp and corruption erased and education policies revamped.

Then I read that the GNH is based on the Bhutanese philosophy of 8 8 8 ; work, pleasure and sleep. This magic formula is indeed the key to a slower mode of living; but it will mean having time to ponder over matters in life, taking pleasure in little things and eating slowly. How nice; if only this is practiced in real life. Can it work? Yes, it can if there are external factors to help us like not having to pay for utility bills, education till the tertiary level is free and people live life as it should be. Yet, this is only an illusion. So, the magic formula is still for individuals to measure.

But I also learn that the Bhutanese though poor in comparison to many 1st world countries are the happiest people on earth. They are environmentalists and crime is rare though people trek for hours from one place to another. Beggars and homeless people are unlikely to be seen. Poor and yet full of integrity. So basically if we practice right values, it does lead to real happiness.

I was surprised at a finding. Children speak and use the formal lingua franca - ENGLISH. Bhutan's education system believes that English should be the medium of instruction in school; that's why the present king went to Oxford. Closely knitted and traditional; I am pleasantly surprised that they do not think using English in school will have a detrimental impact in unity. I really like that.

Better still the Bhutanese government has a GNH commission formed to conduct surveys as indicators to establish the nation's well-being and the people's aspirations and desires. It has 1st class mentality here. Tshiteem, the commissioner's secretary reiterates that Bhutan has a policy to use the 24 hours in a day equal among work, pleasure and sleep and that a truly sustainable and happy life cannot compromise on these 3 aggregates for a long time... working too hard however meaningful your work is will be detrimental. So they make decisions for the nation based on the happiness factor; one of which is to tap revenue from hydroelectricity to reduce tax burden. What a responsible decision. They listen to their people. That's why they love and respect their former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck so much for leaving such a rich legacy behind. The former king believes that development was better measured by how happy his people were than how rich they were. He was appalled at what rich countries had to pay for progress - smog, pollution and tainted air and water. He would rather his people breathe in oxygen-filled air and having rolling plains to play on.




When the present King Jigme Khesar married a commoner, Queen Pema, Bhutan rejoiced as thousands watched the live telecast of the ceremonies in the absence of visiting heads and foreign princes. Is this too an indication of true happiness; that the people of Bhutan should celebrate the occasion in a warm, simple and closely-knit ethos without outsiders? Happiness is being with your people and for your people? King Jigme Khesar says the people of Bhutan has inherited a queen who is warm, loving and approachable and that is happiness.

Maybe the key factor is to know what you are happy about in life taking into consideration many things that may work against it. So reflect individually and just stay happy even at the slightest delights. Maybe happiness is making others happy.

How can the world emulate Bhutan?