The GNH Ambassador

        There are some people in our lives who we celebrate seeing on a routine basis. Even if there are no obvious reasons for our desire to see them, their charismatic qualities, personalities, and wisdom frequently influence us to automatically follow them.

 

        Lynchoen Jigme Yoezer Thinley, Bhutan’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, is one such personality to me. I began to hero-worship his excellency ever since I was able to use my education to understand and conceptualise what great human beings are made of. Even now, his charismatic leadership qualities, sharp wisdom, and unwavering commitment to serving his country for decades – both inside and outside the border – fascinate me.

 

           Lynchoen Jigme Yoezer Thinley became the brand ambassador for Gross National Happiness (GNH) in 2008, following Bhutan's smooth transition to a constitutional democratic monarchy. He travelled extensively around the world in his capacity as the nation's elected leader to spread the message of GNH and inspire and motivate world powers to embrace it. In 2011, he proposed that 'Happiness' be added to the 9th Millennium Development Goals on behalf of his King and the country.

 

        His excellency has kept a low profile about his whereabouts since stepping down from politics. But thanks to Lerab Ling, a leading Tibetan Buddhist centre in Europe, for hosting a live event where I was able to listen to his excellency's wisdom once more. Listening to His Excellency speak on the topic of Ecological Resilience in Gross National Happiness was enlightening.

 

            The link to the video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHp8c1iSqqc&t=34s

 

        GNH is a holistic developmental approach of Bhutan that ensures economic wealth along with emotional, spiritual and psychological needs in place. GNH is composed of 4 pillars:  

Pillar 1: Sustainable and Equitable Socio-Economic development

Pillar 2: Preservation and Promotion of Culture. 

Pillar 3: Conservation of Environment

Pillar 4: Establishment of Good Governance. 

 

        These four pillars are further divided into 9 domains and 72 variables employed. The 9 domains are: 

1. Living standard

2. Health

3. Education

4. Time Use

5. Psychological well-being

6. Community Vitality

7. Ecological Diversity and Resilience

8. Culture Diversity and Resilience

9. Good Governance. 

 

        GNH is the brainchild of His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth King of Bhutan. Almost 6 decades ago in 1972, His Majesty the King envisioned that all kinds of economic developments in his Kingdom must equally balance the elements of the spiritual, mental, psychological, and emotional well-being of the people. That is why, shortly after his enthronement, His Majesty the King declared that “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product”. His Majesty the King was well aware that the ultimate aim of every human being was happiness. 

 

        Happiness, which was proposed by Bhutan during the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in 2011, has become a much sought philosophical commodity since the UN adopted it as the 9th Millennium Development Goal (MDG). On the 12th of July 2012, the United Nations unanimously declared March 20th as International Happiness Day, recognising this paradigm of development as practical and imperative. 

 

        As a citizen of the country who aspires to happiness both for oneself and others, I share the pride in hero-worshipping the leaders who work to carry out the wishes of their benevolent monarch and, in the end, give their best to make the world a better place to live in.