Publication

This brief paper discusses the Gross National Happiness (GNH) index that was crafted by Bhutan's rulers and is based on four pillars: good governance, sustainable socioeconomic development, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation. The author argues that cautious reforms in Bhutan's politics, economics, and international relations are rapidly rendering this tiny kingdom into ‘everywhere else’. So, while ‘Shangri-La’ does not exist in reality, myths continue to remain a driver of human destiny.