The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Fortune Magazine, well known for publishing the annual Fortune 500 list of the world’s richest companies and a sister concern of Time Magazine has listed Bhutan’s Prime Minister Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay in the list of ‘50 World’s Greatest Leaders’ list for 2016.
Coming at number 50 the Magazine says that Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay is only the second Prime Minister to Bhutan since it held its first democratic election in 2008.
It says, “He still uses the old Monarchy’s Gross National Happiness Index, compiled through surveys of citizens, to measure the country’s progress, but he has also turned to more concrete goals, like harnessing the economic potential of the Himalayan nation’s hydropower.”
Highlighting Bhutan’s environmental track record it says, “He’s sustaining the country’s environmental commitment: Bhutan has maintained its unique status as a carbon-negative country, serving as a “sink” for about 4 million tons of CO2 a year.”
The Magazine says, “These men and women are transforming the world and inspiring others to do the same.”
Lyonchhen in his international tours after coming to office has garnered a lot of attention especially through his interviews with journalists and public speeches at key conferences.
Two recent examples are the international Ted conference which became popular on social media and the Charlie Rose show interview in USA.
This has been combined with his clean image and a penchant to market Bhutan well to the international community.
Lyonchhen, in the list, is rubbing shoulders with personalities like German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Aung San Suu Kyi, Pope Francis, Host and Producer of ‘last Week Tonight Show’ John Oliver, U2 singer Bono, IMF Director Christine Lagarde, Melinda Gates, Arvind Kejriwal among others.
Lyonchhen said, “It is not about me but rather about what Bhutan has achieved. I am happy that the world is watching Bhutan. It is confirmation of Bhutan’s alternate path and how we have developed as a small country with limited resources.”
The PM said, “It is a confirmation about our extraordinary Kings. The path taken by Bhutan is guided by the leadership of His Majesty The King and inspired by His Majesty The King.”
He said that at it is an honour for the country and he is very happy about it.
Fortune says, “Especially striking in our new ranking of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders is how many of them you may not recognize. In our media-saturated, personality-obsessed global culture, how can that be? Yet it is so, and that’s what makes this group so heartening. It turns out the world is full of people you’ve never heard of who are rallying followers to make life better in ways you never imagined.”
The magazine points out that it isn’t enough to be accomplished, brilliant, or admirable to be on the list. “We recognize those who are inspiring others to act, to follow them on a worthy quest, and who have shown staying power,” it says.
The article explaining the lack of any US Presidential election contenders says, “Simply applying for the world’s top leadership job, as Trump and his rivals are doing now, does not in itself make one a great leader. Nor, as you’ll see, does having that job necessarily put you on our list.”
It says, “The leaders you’ll meet here, known and new, will lift your mood and upgrade your assessment of the world’s future.”
