EMPOWERING SOCIETY WITH GNH
- GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS IN PRACTICE
a talk by Dr. Saamdu Chetri
11AM 10 February 2015
University College London
UCL Anthropology Department
Daryl Forde Seminar Room
14 Taviton Street
WC1H 0BW London
DR. SAAMDU CHETRI
Appointed to the Office of the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Bhutan in May 2008, Dr. Saamdu Chetri was
given the task to develop the Gross National Happiness Centre in Dewaling, Bumthang, Bhutan and now serves as its
Executive Director. Dr Chetri is a believer in natural order of the existence and an advocate against global warming, nonorganic farming and consumerism.
Dr. Chetri has many article publications to his credit as well as two books ( ‘Money and Microenterprises’ and ‘Far apart and
close together’) and contributed to the writing of first book on Gross National Happiness.
GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS (GNH)
GNH is a holistic and sustainable approach to development, which balances material and non-material values with the
conviction that humans want to search for happiness. The objective of GNH is to achieve a balanced development in all
facets of life, which is essential to our happiness. The goal of GNH is happiness. One of several means to achieve this goal
is sustainable economic growth. GNH is a unique approach to national and global development.
The concept of Gross National Happiness consists of four pillars: fair socio –
economic development, conservation and promotion of a vibrant culture,
environmental protection and good governance.
GNH has only been officially used in Bhutan, where Gross National
Happiness Commission is charged with reviewing policy decisions
and allocation of resources.
For more info e-mail
gnh.londonvisit@gmail.com