These are interesting times for the Bhutanese. The Prime Minister is at the United Nations in New York for an extremely high level conference, Wellbeing and Happiness: Defining a New Economic Paradigm, with an aim to take further the Happiness Resolution that he proposed 2 years ago at the UNGA. The Millennium Development Goals is deadlined for 2015 and it is hoped that the new paradigm will influence the new development goals keeping the overall "Wellbeing and Happiness" of the people in mind.
There are 600 participants from all over the world comprising Nobel Laureates, Academics, Economists and Non-Governmental Organizations. At the centre of this is the Prime Minister of Bhutan who feels very passionately that he is taking/sharing to the global stage the unique philosophy of Gross National Happiness that his King (the Fourth King of Bhutan) coined and abided by during His reign.
Bhutan's example as a country that was forced to emerge from self-imposed isolation as a result of events beyond its borders and pursue a consistent and steady pace of development without compromising its environmental, cultural, traditional and religious values, has been well noted. The country's ability to steer itself on the right path as a result of its small population and, more importantly, its enlightened rulers/Kings, has been/should be, a lesson for many leaders of other nations - not only poor ones. The Prime Minister's attempt to do this - make an example of his King and Country - should be applauded and appreciated.
