MinerAlert
April 17, 2023 - December 9, 2023
Popular perceptions of Bhutan as a remote, “happiest place on earth,” are more complex than one might think. Contemporary Bhutanese people attempt to strike a balance between tradition and modernity through an interconnected effort guided by Gross National Happiness (GNH). Using artifacts and images, this exhibit explains how Bhutan utilizes GNH by weaving cultural, spiritual, national, and local traditions with modernization.
As part of UTEP’s Bhutan Days, the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens is proud to present Bhutan: Modern and Traditional Intertwined. This exhibition will be on display from April 17 to Decmeber 9, 2023.
Intro
Bhutan, known as Druk Yul in Dzongkha translates to Land of The Thunder Dragon, is a small nation in the Himalayas nestled between China to the north and India to the south. Despite popular perceptions of Bhutan as a secluded, "happiest place on earth," its democracy is a leader in environmental conservation and has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Through its unique philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH), Bhutan navigates a twofold path between tradition and modernization. GNH balances tradition and modernity through a complicated, interconnected process requiring multiple approaches. There is a saying that the mountains, rivers, streams, rocks, and soils of Bhutan are thought to be the realm of spirits. Similar to the interweaving of the natural and spiritual worlds, illustrated in this saying, the four pillars of GNH are also intertwined with local, national, spiritual, and cultural traditions.
Introducción
Bután, conocido como Druk Yul en Dzongkha, se traduce como la Tierra del Dragón del Trueno, es una pequeña nación en el Himalaya ubicada entre en norte de China y el sur de India. A pesar de las percepciones populares de Bután como el "lugar [aislado] más feliz del mundo", su democracia es líder en la conservación del medio ambiente y tiene una de las economías de más rápido crecimiento en el mundo. A través de su filosofía única de Felicidad Nacional Bruta (FNB), Bután atraviesa por un camino doble entre la tradición y la modernización. FNB equilibra la tradición y la modernidad a través de un proceso complicado e interconectado que requiere múltiples enfoques. Hay un dicho que se cree que las montañas, ríos, arroyos, rocas y suelos de Bután son el reino de los espíritus. De manera similar al entrelazamiento de los mundos natural y espiritual, ilustrado en este dicho, los cuatro pilares de la FNB también están entrelazados con las tradiciones locales, nacionales, espirituales y culturales.
What Is Gross National Happiness (GNH)?
The standard indicator of economic development for many nations is the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Gross National Product (GNP). Economists agree that both are effective ways to measure development, but GDP and GNP have their faults, especially when assessing happiness and the well-being of individuals. Bhutan has a unique approach to modernization while not compromising its traditions. Instead of relying solely on the GDP and GNP, Bhutan uses Gross National Happiness (GNH) to measure the quality of life. GNH aims to achieve a healthy balance between the social, non-material, and material aspects. The framework of GNH, consisting of four pillars and nine domains, has been evident long before its introduction in 1972 and inclusion in the Bhutanese Constitution in 2008.
¿Qué es la Felicidad Nacional Bruta (FNB)?
El indicador estándar de desarrollo económico para muchas naciones es el Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) y el Producto Nacional Bruto (PNB). Los economistas están de acuerdo en que ambas son formas efectivas para medir el desarrollo, pero el PIB y el PNB tienen sus fallas, especialmente al evaluar la felicidad y el bienestar de las personas. Bután tiene un enfoque único para la modernización sin comprometer sus tradiciones. En lugar de depender únicamente del PIB y el PNB, Bután utiliza la Felicidad Nacional Bruta (FNB) para medir la calidad de vida. FNB tiene como objetivo lograr un equilibrio saludable entre los aspectos sociales, no materiales y materiales. El marco de FNB, que consta de cuatro pilares y nueve áreas de dominio, ha sido evidentemente extenso desde antes de su introducción en 1972 y su inclusión en la Constitución de Bután en 2008.
Pillar 1: Sustainable and Equitable Socioeconomic Development
Domains
Pilar 1: Desarrollo Socioeconómico Sostenible y Equitativo
Áreas de dominios
Pillar 2: Preservation and Promotion of Culture
Domains
Pilar 2: Preservación y Promoción de la Cultura
Áreas de dominio
Pillar 3: Conservation of the Environment
Article 5.1 of the 2008 Constitution states, “Every Bhutanese is a trustee of the Kingdom's natural resources and environment for the benefit of the present and future generations and it is the fundamental duty of every citizen to contribute to the protection of the natural environment, conservation of the rich biodiversity of Bhutan and prevention of all forms of ecological degradation including noise, visual and physical pollution through the adoption and support of environment-friendly practices and policies.”
Pilar 3: Conservación del Medio Ambiente
El artículo 5.1 de la Constitución de 2008 establece: “Todos los Butaneses son depositarios y administradores de los recursos naturales y el medioambiente del Reino, para las generaciones presentes y futuras, y es un deber fundamental de todo ciudadano contribuir a la protección
del medioambiente, a la conservación de la rica biodiversidad de Bután y a la prevención de todas las formas de degradación ecológica, incluida la contaminación visual, física y sonora, mediante la adopción de prácticas y políticas medioambientales amigables”.
Pillar 4: Good Governance
In Bhutan, good governance plays an instrumental role in enhancing the overall well-being of the people by promoting democracy, decentralizing power, maintaining transparency, and encouraging people’s participation in development. These values are essential to enhancing the overall well-being of the people.
The elected representatives are neutral and do not have any political affiliation with any political party. The developmental processes are carried out at the grassroots level, ensuring that all citizens can directly participate in the political process by expressing their needs and concerns to their chosen representatives. In exchange, the way the local government operates ensures that the needs of the populace are met in a transparent and accountable fashion. This concept of decentralization, where authority and responsibilities are transferred from a central authority to the locally elected government, embodies the pillar of Good Governance within GNH.
Pilar 4: Buen Gobierno
Conclusion: How Does a Country Measure Development and Happiness?
Measurements for development are often reduced to quantifiable measurements such as economic outputs. For most governments, the qualitative dimensions get overlooked when researchers, politicians, and bureaucrats assess development. GNH offers an approach to development that goes beyond the quantitative and economical. On the other hand, happiness is an abstract concept that is difficult to measure. Yet measuring happiness is attainable using both objective and subjective frameworks. Unlike the superficial, "happy-go-lucky" concept that GNH is often perceived as, Gross National Happiness is a holistic application for development that uses traditional wisdom. GNH’s primary goal is to fulfill the needs of Bhutan, integrating nature, culture, spirituality, tradition, and humanity to construct a well-rounded individual that will ultimately make this world a better place for life to flourish. GNH is a pragmatic response to the challenges of globalization, without compromising Bhutan's values and identity.
Conclusión: ¿Cómo mide un país el desarrollo y la felicidad?
Las medidas para el desarrollo a menudo se reducen a medidas cuantificables, como resultados económicos. Para la mayoría de los gobiernos, las dimensiones cualitativas se pasan por alto cuando los investigadores, políticos y burócratas evalúan el desarrollo. FNB ofrece un enfoque de desarrollo que va más allá de lo cuantitativo y económico. Por otro lado, la felicidad es un concepto abstracto que es difícil de medir. Sin embargo, es posible medir la felicidad utilizando marcos tanto objetivos como subjetivos. A diferencia del concepto superficial y despreocupado que a menudo se percibe como la FNB, la Felicidad Nacional Bruta es una aplicación holística para el desarrollo que utiliza la sabiduría tradicional. El objetivo principal del FNB es satisfacer las necesidades de Bután, integrando la naturaleza, la cultura, la espiritualidad, la tradición y la humanidad para construir un individuo integral que, en última instancia, hará de este mundo un lugar mejor para que florezca la vida. FNB es una respuesta pragmática a los desafíos de la globalización, sin comprometer los valores y la identidad de Bután.
Acknowledgments
Exhibit Design and Curation: Evan Lopez, Samantha Winer, Fayelee Overman, Sangay Choden, Sejal Chhetri, Tenzin Wangmo, Sonam Dema
Graphic Design/Preparator: Fayelee Overman
Education Curator: Evan Lopez
Dzongkha Translation: Tashi Dorji, Phuntsho Wangdi
Translation: Mayra Gonzalez and Evan Lopez
Centennial Museum Staff: Daniel Carey-Whalen (Centennial Museum Director), Osvaldo Echavarri, Dr. Kevin Floyd, Leonardo Flores, Christin Moreno, Cindy Puerta, Renette Rodriguez, Emily Villarreal, Skye Gomez-Ciaccio, Leslie Herrera
Centennial Museum Interns: Tori Huizar, Brooke Gerdes
UTEP-EPCC Humanities Collaborative Fellow: Sangay Choden
Dean Of Students: Dr. Catie McCorry-Andalis
Office of International Programs and Study Abroad: Dr. Dania Brandford-Calvo
Bhutan Days Committee: Dr. Catie McCorry-Andalis, Dr. Dania Brandford-Calvo, Jennifer Crawford, Beatriz Cruz de León, Daniel Carey-Whalen, Evan Lopez, Fayelee Overman, Samantha Winer
Funding Provided by: Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother Kesang Choden Wangchuk Excellence Endowment
Special Thanks to: David Perez, Big Media, The Office of University Events, and the Bhutanese Student Association