The Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck emphasized that for Bhutan “Gross National Happiness,” is more important than “Gross National Product.” Thus, Gross National Happiness is now being fleshed out by a wide range of professionals, scholars,and agencies across the world.The concept of Gross National Happiness is based on the premise that true development of human society takes place when material and spiritual development occurs side by side to complement and reinforce each other.
Gross National Happiness as a development paradigm has now made it possible for Bhutan to take its developmental policies into the remote corners of the kingdom and to meet the development needs of even its most isolated villagers, while still accentuating the need to protect and preserve our rich environment and forest cover.Furthermore, the concept of Gross National Happiness has greatly enabled the pursuit of development, while at the same time promoting the attainment of happiness as the core philosophy of life. For the government, it has facilitated the drive towards self-sufficiency and self-reliance, the ultimate reduction in the gap between the rich and the poor and ensuring good governance and empowerment of her people as one of its key directives.
It is a holistic and sustainable approach to development, which balances material and non-material values with the conviction that humans want to search for happiness. The objective of GNH is to achieve a balanced development in all the facets of life that are essential; for our happiness.
THE FOUR MAIN PILLARS
These pillars embody national and local values, aesthetics, and spiritual traditions.
- Equitable and equal socio-economic development;
- Preservation and promotion of cultural and spiritual heritage;
- Conservation of environment; and,
- Good governance which is interwoven, complementary, and consistent.
The philosophy of Gross National Happiness has received international recognition.
