Welcome to the Kingdom of Bhutan! In this blog, I will explore the discourse of Bhutan and their social practices that enhanced their total human experience. This unique country was never conquered or colonized, and till this day the country is still ruled by the same Monarch family.
(Geographic Map of Bhutan, NGS 2009)
The population of Bhutan is currently 738,000. The northern country is border with China and the west, east and south is border with India.
(Young Monks of Bhutan, Gaston Lacombe 2011)
Majority of the population are Buddhist, Bhutan has more monks than militants.
After seeing the world, the fourth King realized that you can reach happiness with a certain amount of money, then after that money brings more dissatisfaction. He wanted another way to measure the progress of his people, so he invented the Gross National Happiness Index. The Gross National Happiness Index was first proposed in 1972 by Bhutan's former king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk Measuring the Gross National Happiness Index is a complex process as it includes 33 indicators that come from nine different core domains. ( Roberts, 2011) Above is an infograph I've created to indicate the nine different core domains that are significant in measure GNH.
( Gross National Happiness Scale, ArcGIS Online)
GNH comprises four pillars:
1) Conservation of the Environment
2) Equitable and Sustainable Development
3) Good Governance
4) Preservation of Culture. (Larmar, 2010)
These main four pillars are significant of measuring and balancing the human experience for the people of Bhutan. Conservation of the Environment, Bhutan 93% are in agriculture, 2% Industry, and 5% in Services. (CIA, 2012) Bhutan practices planting with nature rather than against nature. Earth is the birth root of all their foods and resources. So the Bhutan treats nature with reverence To maintain a decent economic level, Bhutan began adding english language in their education to increase oppurtunity, and also create hydropump to produce energy and sells the source of energy to India. Good Governance is important in Bhutan, after stepping down from the crown the fourth king crowned his only son the fifth King in 2008. He also created a democracy, because he feared one should never have such absolute power. The royal family are respected by their citizens, and the King only do what is best for his people.
GNH comprises four pillars:
1) Conservation of the Environment
2) Equitable and Sustainable Development
3) Good Governance
4) Preservation of Culture. (Larmar, 2010)
These main four pillars are significant of measuring and balancing the human experience for the people of Bhutan. Conservation of the Environment, Bhutan 93% are in agriculture, 2% Industry, and 5% in Services. (CIA, 2012) Bhutan practices planting with nature rather than against nature. Earth is the birth root of all their foods and resources. So the Bhutan treats nature with reverence To maintain a decent economic level, Bhutan began adding english language in their education to increase oppurtunity, and also create hydropump to produce energy and sells the source of energy to India. Good Governance is important in Bhutan, after stepping down from the crown the fourth king crowned his only son the fifth King in 2008. He also created a democracy, because he feared one should never have such absolute power. The royal family are respected by their citizens, and the King only do what is best for his people.
This is the fourth pillar of GNH, Preservation of Culture. Many festivals are celebrated in Bhutan, this is to promote active community and allow people to interacts. The leisure time is for people to celebrate their culture and heritages but also bond with one another. Unlike U.S, Bhutan promotes collective identity rather individual identity.
( Bhutan women working in the field. Amy Vitale, 2009)
Gender Roles and Status Life
Expectancy at birth: total population: 67.88 years male: 67.01 years female: 68.79 years ( CIA, 2012) Bhutan's culture does not isolate or disenfranchise women. Dowry is not practiced, and land is divided equally between sons and daughters. Girls receive equal educational opportunities as boys, Men and women mix and converse freely, without the restrictions that separate the sexes among other groups in South Asia. (Larmar, 2010)
Gender Roles and Status Life
Expectancy at birth: total population: 67.88 years male: 67.01 years female: 68.79 years ( CIA, 2012) Bhutan's culture does not isolate or disenfranchise women. Dowry is not practiced, and land is divided equally between sons and daughters. Girls receive equal educational opportunities as boys, Men and women mix and converse freely, without the restrictions that separate the sexes among other groups in South Asia. (Larmar, 2010)
(A group of monks watching Oprah, Amy Vitale 2009)
In June 1999, television was introduced in the country and Bhutan became the last nation in the world to have television.
The introduction of television is often regarded as incompatible with Bhutanese culture and a cause behind the increase in crime.
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(In detailed explanation of GNH, Youtube 2008)The law of karma dictates that an individual's decisions and behaviors in one life can influence his or her transmigration into the next life; for example, if someone lived life in harmony with others, that person would transmigrate to a better existence after death. In contrast, someone who had lived selfishly would inherit a life worse than the previous one after death. ( Howard 2011)
Work Cites
1) Roberts, Sophy K. "The Wonders of Bhutan." - Articles. American Express, 11 Oct. 2011. Web. 10 May 2013.
2) Larmar, Brook L. "Bhutan." 's Enlightened Experiment. National Geographic, 28 Mar. 2010. Web. 10 May 2013.
3) Snow, John M. "Central Intelligence Agency." CIA. U.S.A, 12 Oct. 2012. Web. 10 May 2013.
4)Howard, Connie B. "Countries and Their Cultures." Culture of Bhutan. Jrank, 21 Feb. 2011. Web. 20 May 2013.
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