GNP Or GNH: How Realistic Is the Choice? B.K
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hi adri 4 D O O N L I B R A R Y June, 2010 & R e s e a r c h C e n t r e GNP or GNH: How realistic is the choice? B.K. Joshi n a recent issue of the Nepali programmes within the nationally and procedures. Unfortunately, it ITimes1, Artha Beed2 has written determined framework. remains a fact that the notion of a thought-provoking column titled GNH as distinguished from GNP is “Himalayan experiments: Can Bhutan The choice, however, is not an easy nowhere on the horizon of possible get it right?” Based on his recent visit one. It would, in fact, mean turning options in India today. No political to Bhutan he says: “The Bhutanese our back on many of the conveniences party has espoused the idea as talk extensively about Gross National that we now take for granted and evidenced by their manifestoes in Happiness (GNH) as a counter to are becoming increasingly addicted the last parliamentary election; market and consumption driven to. These would doubtless include neither does it figure in academic GDP. For instance, mountaineering in the private car/motor cycle/scooter, debates and discussions. On the Bhutan is not allowed, as it has been internet, cable or dish television and contrary a wide consensus seems to deemed that the mountains should mobile phone to name just a few. exist in the country on the notion of be kept as they are. Their conception Artha Beed poses these questions in inclusive growth. The issue therefore of measuring people's happiness the context of Bhutan in the following is can and should the notion of Gross as opposed to consumption or words: National Happiness become the production is unique, and is a counter “While a small population can allow new orthodoxy in development? Is it to western measures of prosperity.” for Singapore-style governance and desirable? Is it possible? If so how? We feel that this sentiment will control, the opening up of information We are posing this question with find resonance in many people access will be difficult to stem. How in our state as well. There are a a view to provoke a debate. We long can the local television channel, welcome your views on this question, fairly large number of people who which resembles the Nepal Television are dissatisfied with the existing which we shall publish in the next of the early nineties, compete with issue of HIMADRI. So please do take pattern of development, based as international channels? How can one it is on increasing production and some time off, think about the issue ignore the popularity of the first Miss (if you haven’t done so already) and consumption as the measure of Bhutan contest and the aspirations growth and development. They are write to us. You may send us your of Bhutanese youth that make up views in either English or Hindi, either searching for viable alternatives half the population? How long one to the dominant paradigm. It is in by mail or by email or hand-deliver it can one expect to see this youth in to us. this context that we are posing the (mandatory) traditional dress, coke question whether the Bhutanese in one hand and cell phone in the model can be a viable model for other other? How will the youth challenge 1http://www.nepalitimes.com/issue countries, especially large ones like those who have been in power for /2010/05/21/Economic Sense / 17093. India. We are deliberately not posing many years in the elections slated for 2 this issue in the context of a state Artha Beed is the nom de plume of Sujeev 2013?” Shakya, a business executive in Nepal. His like Uttarakhand, although some has recently published a book on evolution people may consider it very relevant Above all is the ethical question: is the and choices before the economy of Nepal: to a Himalayan state. The reason is choice democratically made by the Unleashing Nepal: Past, Present and Future quite obvious. Development choices people at large, or is it imposed by fiat of the Economy (New Delhi, Penguin, in a state in India are quite severely from above? It goes without saying 2009). He was one of the authors featured in the recent Doon Readings during April constrained by choices made at the that in a democracy the choice of a 2-4, 2010. national level; states don’t really have development path has necessarily much freedom in this regard and to be expressed in prescribed ways have to tailor their own development and through established institutions Chief Editor Dr B K Joshi Editor Chandrashekhar Tewari Photographs Hem Singh Dariyal hi adri 4 D O O N L I B R A R Y & R e s e a r c h C e n t r e From the Director January 1, 2010. These changes have been highlighted the virtual absence of reliable generally welcomed. source material on the social structure These past few months we have been busy and history of the region, especially of with a number of other activities as well. marginalised and peripheral groups. He One of the highlights of the recent past was pointed out that much of the work on the the second edition of Mountain Echoes, our social history of the region can be traced to literary festival. This year’s edition of the the contribution of British administrators. festival, which was held during April 2, 3 & He argued that a linguistic analysis can help he period since our last newsletter 4 was christened Doon Readings and was in uncovering certain aspects of the social Thas been a rather busy one for us. I organised in collaboration with Yatra Books evolution of Uttarakhand, the evidence am happy to inform you that the library and Penguin India Books with financial for is either not available or deliberately has continued to grow. The number of support from the Uttarakhand Tourism suppressed or even denied. The lecture has books on our shelves has crossed 12,000. Development Corporation and Gas Authority now been published by us and copies can Membership of the library also continues of India Limited. It featured readings, panel be had by writing to us. to grow apace and has just crossed 600. discussions, and conversations with Hindi The other activities organised by us since We are now so confident that both these and English writers. Many more writers January include: numbers will continue to grow that we have participated this time compared to the January 11, 2010: Prof. Arvind Krishna stopped setting milestones and celebrating previous occasion. Some prominent names Mehrotra gave a talk and readings from his whenever we reached them as we did in the were: Liladhar Jaguri, Manglesh Dabral, recent (yet to be published) translations of past. That does not mean, however, that Himanshu Joshi, Shekhar Joshi, Mamta Kabir’s poems. we have become complacent about our Kalia, Subhash Pant, Hamad Faruqui, progress. We continue to add new books Yatindra Misra, Shekhar Pathak, Ruskin February 04, 2010: Well-known American with the same speed and welcome each Bond, Pushpesh Pant, Vicky Arya, Ira peace activist Ms. Joanne Sheehan gave new member with the same enthusiasm Pande, Keki Daruwala, Sujeev Shakya (from a talk on “Gandhian non-violence and the as we did our first one. We feel particularly Nepal), Aditya Sudarshan, Rachna Joshi, response of nations towards permanent happy to see both our reading rooms full all Girish Tiwari ‘Girda’, Narendra Negi etc. The peace”. through the day. While the outside reading programme was a great success. March 06, 2010: Panel discussion room meant for newspapers sees a constant The inaugural programme on the evening moderated By Shri Rajen Brij Nath, Adviser, flow of readers from early morning to late of April, at which the Chief Guest was Mr on a critical assessment of programmes for evening, the inside reading room, meant N.S. Napalchyal, was held on the lawns of people with disability and what needs to be for books and journals, is also occupied by Hotel Aketa and featured two items that done to improve the situation. Panellists: a regular group of readers, mostly young were highly appreciated. One was a Jagar Ms. Priyo Lal, Ms. Archana Sethi, Ms. Amrit people. It is quite clear to us that we are presentation by Basanti Bisht, the well- Burret and Shri Alok Ulfat. filling a great need of the young people of known exponent of this traditional folk The National Book Trust organised an the city for good books and a place to read. form of Uttarakhand, and the other was a Our reading room can seat only twenty four exhibition of their books at our invitation ballet on the Ganga by Sharmila Bhartari, from January 9 to 14 in the Hindi Bhavan. persons in some degree of comfort, but it an accomplished Odissi dancer based in is quite common to see thirty or even more Dehradun, and her troupe with commentary April 11, 2010: Kavya Sandhya, an evening people cramped into that space. Of late by the well-known stage and film personality of Hindi and Urdu poetry recitation organised we have started seating some readers in Tom Alter, who hails from Mussoorie. The in collaboration with Navodit Swar Saptahik. office spaces that happen to be unoccupied opening evening also featured poetry April 24, 2010: Readings from Shakespeare at any time. I only wish we could provide a recital by well-known Uttarakhandi poets in celebration of his birth anniversary.