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 What does Bhutan's Gross National Happiness entail when viewed in the context of its refugee crisis? In a response to accusations in 1987 by a journalist from UK's Financial Times that the pace of development in Bhutan was slow, the King said that "Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product." In 2006, Business Week magazine rated Bhutan the happiest country in Asia and the eighth-happiest in the world, citing a global survey conducted by the University of Leicester in 2006 called the ‘World Map of Happiness.'
Yet, the question arises: what does this happiness entail, especially when viewed in the context of Bhutan's refugee crisis? The country has generated one of the highest numbers of refugees in the world in proportion to its population and has come under severe criticism for its poor human rights record.
The problem of refugees started in the early 1990s immediately after the success of People's Movement (Jana Andolan-1) in Nepal when Lhotshampas, people of Nepali origin who settled in Bhutan during the late 19th century, in increasing numbers started demanding democracy in Bhutan.
Kharat, an Indian writer believes anti-Drukpa activities of Lhothsampas led the Royal Government to "forcefully integrate them into Driglaam Namzha meaning traditional Bhutanese culture." He also believes that some Lhothsampas were advocating the concept of "Greater Nepal" which would have threatened Bhutan. Thus, a string of measures were taken against the people of Nepali origin. Once they demanded for democracy in early 1990s, they were arrested in great numbers, tortured and were forced to leave the country.
If seen in the light of political landscape of the region and the trends of global politics, openness in the society is a fair demand. Everyone has a right to raise his voice that it should be addressed sincerely. Suppression and governments' apathy to people has been one of the features of South Asian polity. This not only weakens the society but also strains the relations among member countries. Interventions are sought and possibilities for this are exploited. The outcome of this is people's suffering in one case or the other. Today Bhutan refugees number 108,000 people. They settle in Nepal, India, the U.S., Canada, Denmark and Norway.
They are being settled in these countries under the ‘third country settlement' that was facilitated by the United States. However, it involves its own complexities. The majority of the refugees are in Nepal living in the camps with UNHCR support. Soon after their expulsion from Bhutan, the governments of both countries started negotiations for their resettlement. Nearly two dozen rounds of talks have been held but had borne no fruits. Nepal has been reluctant to the third country settlement because it would minimize the chances of refugees return to Bhutan. This has strained its relations with India as refugees enter Nepal through Indian Territory for Nepal and Bhutan don't share the border.
With the U.S. involvement due to its interests in Nepal and India and more so in the region, the government of Nepal has agreed to third country settlement but another problem is whether the refugees themselves want to settle in the third country or not.
Another very pertinent concern is that even if they settle abroad, what would be their status there. They are being accepted as laborers. Would they get assimilated? Knowing the growing trends there and problem faced by Asians particularly of less advantaged and less skilled, the answer is not difficult to gauge. Coming from the country where Gross National Happiness has been the guiding philosophy of life, what is there for these refugees to be happy? National reconciliation, acceptance for pluralism and basic rights to freedom are needed to resolve the crisis. 
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