Preserving the consciousness of a nation: Promoting ?Gross National Happiness? in Bhutan through her rich oral traditions

His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, King of Bhutan, has developed the philosophy of "Gross National Happiness" in the Kingdom, accentuating Bhutan's vision of development beyond material economics and growth (sometimes reflected as Gross National Product). In order to balance and even outweigh creeping outside influences of materialism and selfcenteredness, in addition to saying there is a better and more applicable standard than the United Nation's Human Development Index, a national emphasis on storytelling and the oral arts at the indigenous grassroots level is being considered. The Kingdom of Bhutan has a rich heritage in its folktales and famous masked dances, setting the stage for the promotion of Bhutan's "Gross National Happiness" through the time-honoured traditions of oral communication. It is proposed that this integration of entertainment, information and education through a grassroots initiative would contribute to a sense of community, satisfaction and happiness. Also, the utilization of media through such an initiative would develop a sense of ownership at the level of the people, allowing for its acceptance, use and growth among the citizens of the kingdom.