In the Land of Gross National Happiness…

…Where is Your Home?

I am not against the philosophy of GNH but I want our people realize that we need to do so many things to make the ideals of GNH come true to prove to the world that GNH is achievable.

 

The “Kingdom of heaven” is a condition of the heart – not something that comes “above the earth” or “after death.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Bhutan is famous for its developmental concept of the Gross National Happiness. The dynamic leaders of this tiny Himalayan kingdom emphasize on the happiness-oriented growth. Any developmental activities should ultimately lead to happiness of the people, if I am not mistaken. Thus, the ultimate product of the developmental activities should be ‘HAPPINESS’ of the people. How wholesome this concept is! Plato is, indeed, living in Bhutan. Thomas Moore’s Utopia will come true if the concept of Gross National Happiness is achieved cent percent. Will this come in reality? Did Bhutan government ever realized that every developmental activities come at the cost of the livelihoods of innocent and poor farmers?

In the kingdom where happiness is placed at the top, there are many lapses. There are chasms to be bridged, unturned stones to be turned and darkened places to be illuminated. Nothing is so concerning than the disadvantaged and vulnerable people. Happiness kingdom is adorned with homeless people, wandering and feeding on rubbish for their survival. There is a need for Bhutanese people to rethink some of our actions if we are truly going to live by the ideals of Gross National Happiness. For a nation to be happy, the root is individual happiness. There are many disadvantaged people who are not able to meet the day’s end.

On December 9, 2012, I was heading homeward from college for my winter vacation. I with some of my friends arrived at Mongar at around 7:30pm and I still had more than 40kms to reach my destination. So we took lodging at Newlee Hotel. The hotel isn’t that customer friendly or economically beneficial. Neither the hotel is clean nor warm blankets in the room. In the dearth need of shelter, something is always better than nothing.

After having had dinner in the same hotel, I took a short walk towards what so called ‘Helipad’ of Mongar. To my surprise I saw some sort of shed made for hounds. I went closer and with the help of dim light of my mobile, I took a look. It was not a home for hounds as I deemed it to be but there was a man inside. Another thought rushed in me. The public ground of Mongar is well decorated with colourful tents and flags. I thought that there might be some religious sermons in process, and the person in the shed might be some devotees who had come from a very long distance for the sermon. My thoughts were further strengthened when I saw a symbolic ritual cake. 

The very next morning I again took short walk towards the same place. This time was not exactly a walk. I just went to find a decent place to attend the call of nature in the nature, for toilet in the hotel is awfully horrible. The same ramshackle that I deemed to be the temporary hut of the devotees is owned by a mentally challenged person. What a surprise! There are a few bottles filled with dirty water. There is no remains of food. The blankets he had been using are all torn. This shackle had been his home.

The person living in the shed is mentally challenged. I have had seen him for several times. Whenever I visited Mongar, I can see the same man in the same shed. He is seen in the town begging for foods and eating from the dirty plastics from the dustbins. There is a question of safety of his health. He is sufferer in the land of GNH.

Recently the national newspaper ‘Kuensel’ featured that man in one of the publications. The government might have eyed the story. The government might have thought for the resolution to serve the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.

 

At one time, I was in Konbar village in Mongar. There too I saw two old aged people living in a hut. The hut can hardly bear the pressure of wind and rain. Their children had locked the newly constructed house and gone with their so-called faithful wives. The couple has hardly anything to survive with. The husband who could be in his 70s is visually impaired and the wife who could most probably be in 70s cannot walk properly. However, she is the guide. I felt very pity on these old parents. All I had in my bag was a few packets of Maggi. I gave it to them. And in return the wife said, “Lopon kadrinchey wana. Sho nang phiwa. Tsi nyai aie dabu mangi wa drakpu thur an cholay ga moelam chana.” Her words brought tears to my eyes.

The life of the old couple is very miserable. They might be waiting for the last day to come. Only these two people will know what truly dead is. It can be solace to their endless sufferings. People might blame their kismet for their sufferings, yet there are so many things that we can do to improve the livelihoods of those disadvantaged.

The aforementioned is a few of the many such incidences. The above two incidents show how our people are suffering in the land of GNH. Former has homed in ramshackle and the later has home no better than cave. When we have so many people suffering in our land, let’s forget propagating the philosophy of GNH to outside Bhutan. We have to make it happen in our own land. We should create concrete ideals so that outsiders can believe and appreciate the philosophy. Let us not fancy the lofty buildings in the cities, let’s not fancy the luxurious SUVs, and let us stop dreaming to help poor people in other nations. Let us start doing from our own land. Let us give to the disadvantaged. Let us build shelter for the needy ones.