A piece of heaven
One
fine day the King decided to abdicate his throne and bring in a young
blood to take run the kingdom. He made his eldest son the King.
The
people of the kingdom were very happy under the King’s rule and
they loved and respected him. The King decided that it was high time
the people should elect a ruler. His Majesty travelled for five years
to each and every nook and corner of his kingdom in order to make his
people mentally prepared to have someone, other than him and his
dynasty, as their ruler.
Sounds
like a bedtime story or one of those good old grandma’s tales that
we have heard in our childhood. Several such stories that we have
heard of at one point of time in our life. In fact, our history is
replete with such kind of stories, there have been several dynasties
and rulers who have ruled throughout the history in lands far and
near. The symbols of their regal past have found a place in our
modern day museums and the palaces that still survive.
But
what I am alluding to here is not just history. It is a real place I
happened to visit last week. A mountain kingdom is set amid splendid
green hills of amazing beauty and peace. The people are simple,
honest and proud of their culture and customs. From the king to the
commoner, everyone wears the same costume.
This
mountain kingdom still remains largely untouched by crime and
pollution and other things that rile our modern world. I couldn’t
help wondering if it was so because only a single airliner links this
kingdom with the outer world and the ubiquitous television and the
internet was allowed only in 1999.
The
King, who was concerned with the well being of his subjects and their
happiness, introduced a new concept to the world called GNH or “gross
national happiness” in 1972 and later a sophisticated survey
instrument to measure the population's general well-being and
happiness was developed. All proposed policies in the Kingdom have to
pass this GNH review quite on the lines of our environmental impact.
I
was
at
the
cultural
social
Centre
which
was
founded
by
the
senior
Queen
Mother
herself
for
nurturing
the
villages
and
the
society.
Leading
authors
and
celebs
and
members
of
the
Royal
family
mingled
to
celebrate
four
days
of
literary
festival.
This centre founded by the Queen Mother has numerous programmes to improve the lives or the “happiness quotient” of the people, especially in the rural areas.
I said good bye to this Kingdom on Friday morning with the promise to be back soon for sure. So many locations in this Kingdom you just stand and hear the voice of silence. It so easy to differentiate the noise of the winds, forests and the mountain over there.
This centre founded by the Queen Mother has numerous programmes to improve the lives or the “happiness quotient” of the people, especially in the rural areas.
I said good bye to this Kingdom on Friday morning with the promise to be back soon for sure. So many locations in this Kingdom you just stand and hear the voice of silence. It so easy to differentiate the noise of the winds, forests and the mountain over there.
 |
| At the Mountain Echoes Literary Festival |
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