On 25 October, the 10th Annual SMU-Ikeda Peace and Harmony Lecture, titled “Bhutan’s Pursuit of Gross National Happiness: Reflections, Challenges, and Its Future” gathered some 250 attendees at the SMU Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium.
Guest Speaker, His Excellency Kinzang Dorji, Ambassador of Bhutan to Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam, began his career in Bhutan’s Ministry of Finance. His roles included Chief Negotiator for Bhutan’s WTO accession and contributor to Bhutan’s UN happiness resolution. He currently serves in various diplomatic and advisory capacities, having studied in Bhutan, Delhi, and London. His expertise extends to positions on boards like Bhutan Development Bank and Bhutan Agro Industries.
In his lecture, Ambassador Dorji drew from his extensive work experience to Bhutan’s unique Gross National Happiness (GNH) framework that prioritizes holistic societal well-being alongside economic growth, emphasizing harmony with nature. He reflected on the impacts and challenges of GNH over decades, and addressed how Bhutan is evolving the framework to preserve its core values while adapting to global changes.
Throughout the lecture and Question and Answer segment, Ambassador Dorji captivated the audience with personal anecdotes that illustrated happiness as a pathway to peace.
If you have missed the intriguing lecture or wish to catch it again, you can now do so via SMU webpage here.
