Gross National Happiness, as a guiding philosophy of Bhutan's development process, was pronounced by His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, soon after his enthronement in 1972. Over the decades, many conferences and discourses have led to increasing elaboration and development of this concept as well as its practice. Our king was clear that happiness is the ultimate end desired, but not necessarily pursued by every Bhutanese and indeed, every human being. All else for which we labor are but means to fulfilling this wish. Yet it is ironic that human society is pervasively susceptible to confusion between this simple end and the complexity of means. This explains why conventional development or economic growth paradigm is seriously flawed and delusional.

It is heartening to observe that toward the end of the last century and at the beginning of this millennium, the reflective and the analytical across all section of society are seeing the need to search for a clear purpose and a more rational approach to development. There is a growing level of dissatisfaction with the way in which human society is being propelled without a clear and meaningful direction by the force of its own actions. It is also noteworthy that, there is general consensus that conventional development process and contemporary way of life are not sustainable.

At this stage in Bhutan, the creation of an enabling environment for GNH is being undertaken through a set of four key strategies popularly known as the four pillars. These are:

• Sustainable and equitable socio-economic development
• Conservation of environment
• Preservation and promotion of culture
• Promotion of good governance