Thimphu

Kevin's favourite capital of the week (April 27, 2014): Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan

One of the most interesting reforms made by the Kings of Bhutan is the Gross National Happiness index (or GNH), which is supposed to measure and improve the happiness of the people of Bhutan. While it was first coined by the 4^th King of Bhutan, the idea of creating happiness for the people goes much further back in Bhutanese history. In an early Bhutanese legal code there is a line that says: “If the government cannot create happiness for its people, there is no point for it to exist.” Happiness in this case I think might be better termed fulfillment as we know it. As the GNH paper goes through great pains to point out, the happiness sought is not the fleeting Western term, but a holistic all encompassing idea that is involved in every facet of life. Bhutan has used the GNH to navigate its way into the present, instead of the GDP, with, arguably, great success. Bhutan is after all known, when its spoken of at all, to be one of the happiest places on the planet. It is now a model that is taken seriously by other state governments around the world, as well as at UN Climate Conferences.

Unfortunately all is not well in the happy kingdom. Serval factors are currently threatening the future of Bhutan and its alternative paradigm to development. Consumerism is creeping in along with foreign investment. Though the country screens foreign businesses fairly heavily to make sure that they comply with GNH standards, they are also concerned about the growing numbers of young people flocking to more urban areas and shunning their agricultural background. Jobs in Thimphu are not in large supply and unemployment has become a real issue. Some of the Thimphu's English language newspapers have run stories about safety dangers and of beggars who are threatening to turn violent if they are not satisfied. Many analysts are suggesting that there will be a crunch time coming up for Bhutan, one that will have to be navigated with great care. It does appear that in this, at least, there are dedicated civil servants looking to find solutions. The Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, has stated that Bhutan is not yet fully true to the GNH ideal and that there is much that still needs to be done. He appears to be committed to doing just that and to beign honest about the less savoury elements facing the country.

 The least savoury of these appears to be the accusations of Human Rights violations against the Nepali speaking and Hindu Lhotshampa minority in the South of the country. A UNHRC report is due out on April 30^th. Its findings may well test the willingness of Prime Minister to honestly face the unsavoury aspects of the country. Reconciliation is what must be reached for, no matter what the findings, not recrimination, if the beautiful idea of the Gross National Happiness Index is to continue to progress.