The Gen Z protest that shook Nepal’s power structure is now calming down after achieving its primary goal. Reports suggest that there is a growing public consensus around the protesters’ demand that the interim government should be led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel and Raman Kumar Karna, secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association, who has been mediating talks on behalf of the protesters, have expressed optimism about the possibility of reconciliation and the formation of an interim government. Popular youth leader and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah has also come forward in support of Sushila Karki. With the streets calming down and the army taking control, Kathmandu airport, which had been shut down, has now resumed operations. Shops and other establishments have also started reopening as usual. With the resignation of President Ram Chandra Paudel, he has constitutionally assumed responsibility for the government and is now playing a leadership role in talks with both the military and the group of “Generation Z protesters.” This has raised hopes that the movement will ease further.
The Gen Z protest, which began on Monday, shook the centres of power with remarkable speed, forcing both the Prime Minister and the President to resign. The immediate trigger was the government’s order requiring 26 major social media platforms to register locally. When platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok did not comply, their services were banned. While it is true that this was what sparked the public outrage, assessing it as a youth-led uprising for digital freedom is not the full truth. In reality, just as seen in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Nepal, where the population is also heavily youth-driven, has witnessed the expression of young people’s dissatisfaction with and resentment toward the political system and ruling establishment. For the younger generations, social platforms are not merely sources of entertainment but also essential tools for communication, economic opportunities, employment, and diverse forms of organisation. By suddenly moving to restrict these platforms in an attempt to curb youth anger, the authorities effectively denied them what are, in essence, their fundamental rights to livelihood. That is why students, tech workers, journalists, artists, unorganised labourers, women, and those employed in rural sectors all came together, fueling a movement that flared up both on the streets and across social media with equal intensity.
Since the abolition of the 239-year-old monarchy, Nepal has seen more than a dozen governments come and go. After years of internal conflict, all major parties, especially the leftist ones, presented the slogan of a “New Nepal” to the people from 2008. Recently ousted leaders K.P. Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” were at the forefront of this promise. Yet, what unfolded was the same old story of politicians reaping the benefits while ordinary citizens being left with nothing but empty promises. Factionalism, opportunistic political alliances for power, corruption, policy failures that worsened domestic production, massive unemployment, and bureaucratic misconduct all became hallmarks of the leftist governments. As a result, both ordinary citizens and young people lost faith in them. According to World Bank estimates, the unemployment rate stands at 21 per cent, with those aged 15 to 24 suffering the most severe impact. While unemployment among the wealthy is 8.5 per cent, it is 17.2 per cent among youth from poor households. Out of Nepal’s population of around 30 million, a large share work abroad, and 34 per cent of Nepal's GDP depends on their income. At the same time, ordinary people constantly watch on social media the images of the lavish lifestyles of the “nepo kids”—the children of political elites—who unjustly seize jobs and wealth. This is precisely why Nepal’s Gen Z protest took shape and gained strength by distancing itself from mainstream politics and political leaders. In that sense, it marks a major setback for leftist politics in Nepal. Now, concerns are being raised over whether the youth’s demand for a transparent and corruption-free Nepal may open the door for a revival of the monarchy. There are also fears whether the military might misuse its role in governance. Nepal’s stability and peace are vital for India’s security as well. The determination of Nepal’s youth to overthrow an anti-people regime is a lesson for all, and one can only hope that it will help shape a brighter future for the country.