Which neighbouring country of India coined the phrase 'Gross National Happiness'?
Bhutan
Understanding Gross National Happiness and its Origin
The question asks about a neighbouring country of India that is known for coining the phrase 'Gross National Happiness'. This phrase represents a development philosophy that goes beyond traditional economic indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
What is Gross National Happiness?
Gross National Happiness (GNH) is a concept that measures the collective happiness and well-being of a population. It is often seen as an alternative or complementary measure to GDP. Instead of focusing solely on economic growth, GNH considers various aspects of life that contribute to happiness and sustainability.
Which Neighbouring Country Coined the Phrase?
The concept of Gross National Happiness was coined in the 1970s. It was introduced by the Fourth King of Bhutan, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Bhutan is a small landlocked country located in the Eastern Himalayas, bordering India.
Bhutan's adoption of GNH as its guiding development philosophy reflects a commitment to balancing material and spiritual well-being, environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and good governance. It's a unique approach compared to many other nations that primarily focus on economic metrics.
Examining the Options
Let's look at the provided options:
- Nepal: While Nepal is a neighbour of India and shares many cultural similarities, it is not the country credited with coining 'Gross National Happiness'.
- Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka is an island nation south of India. It focuses on different development models and did not originate the GNH concept.
- Bhutan: Bhutan is a direct neighbour of India in the Himalayas and is widely recognised as the country that introduced and champions the philosophy of Gross National Happiness.
- Bangladesh: Bangladesh is another neighbouring country to the east of India. Its development approach is different from the GNH model.
Based on the historical origin of the phrase and concept, Bhutan is the country that coined 'Gross National Happiness'.
Conclusion on Gross National Happiness Origin
The country neighbouring India that coined the phrase 'Gross National Happiness' is Bhutan.
Revision Table: Key Concepts
| Concept | Description | Originating Country |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | Measures the total monetary or market value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period. Focuses on economic output. | Generally considered a modern economic metric developed over time by various economists (Simon Kuznets is a key figure in its modern formulation). |
| Gross National Happiness (GNH) | A philosophy that guides the development process by balancing material and spiritual well-being. Measures quality of life in more holistic terms than GDP. | Bhutan |
Additional Information on Bhutan and GNH
Gross National Happiness in Bhutan is guided by four main pillars:
- Sustainable and equitable socio-economic development
- Environmental conservation
- Preservation and promotion of culture
- Good governance
These pillars are further broken down into nine domains, which include living standards, health, education, time use, psychological well-being, cultural diversity and resilience, community vitality, ecological diversity and resilience, and good governance. Bhutan uses these domains to measure and track national progress and well-being, striving for a development path that prioritizes happiness alongside economic growth.
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