Today, races of youth-led movements have freshly changed Nepal’s political landscape. These reforms appear to echo through with similar protests and agitation in neighboring countries of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The recent chaos compelled this long-time stalwart and perennial prime-minister-in-waiting KP Sharma Oli to step down. His home is in ruins and he is still hiding. This family divide further exacerbates this national turmoil, shedding light on a newly awakened generation of youth in Nepal, already struggling with a crippling economy and horrendous corruption.
Chietigj Bajpaee is senior research fellow for South Asia at Chatham House. He noted that youth-led movements are now taking place in Nepal, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Each of these countries has difficult structural challenges that add additional layers to their already divided socio-political climates. Nepal’s young population, with a median age of just 25, further emphasizes the need for timely change. With almost 40% of the population under 18, it makes this dire circumstance all the more acute.
The political unrest was further escalated in recent weeks, especially with viral images of Sheikh Hasina escaping Bangladesh across the border into India. Young people in Nepal rallied behind the sentiment, echoing phrases like, “This could be us – Nepal should be next.” These sentiments mirror a widespread yearning for political revolution and an outright dismissal of stale political tradition.
Despite a recent dramatic turnover in leadership, Nepal has been in the news lately. In only 16 years of democracy, the country has experienced 14 different prime ministers occupying that office. This instability has fostered a feeling of political system in disarray. Endless corruption scandals only exacerbated this mood, thoroughly disillusioning many young citizens.
Tanuja Pandey, one of the more vociferous voices among the Gen Z protesters, captured the sentiments of her generation. She stated, “The wealth of those in power and with access had grown enormously while others continue to suffer.” This growing chasm between the powerful and the people is what has inspired so many youth to take to the streets. Pandey further remarked, “Our generation, Gen Z, is bearing the cost of this and that’s what forced us out on to the streets.”
This was serious enough that the crisis deepened on a recent Friday night with the dissolution of Nepal’s lame-duck parliament. Immediate aftereffects In the wake of this political development, Sushila Karki became Nepal’s first female prime minister. In her inaugural address, Karki promised an “end of corruption, good governance and economic equality.” With a country hungry for transformative leadership, her promises strike a chord.
In fact, social media was instrumental in mobilizing domestic and international support for these protests. Campaigns featuring hashtags like #NepoBaby and #NepoKids went viral on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter™, and more, raising the voices of these disconnected young people. This digital activism has played a significant role in mobilizing young people across geographical divides, fostering a shared collective identity that confronts the establishment.
As young citizens confront ongoing economic hardship—including high youth unemployment and inflation—they are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction. The disparity between their struggles and the visible wealth enjoyed by political elites serves as a powerful motivator for change.
Raksha Bam, another See Vote activist, focused on the boundaries that are set on our young people’s civic participation. “They shut down the civic space of our generation,” she said, highlighting the systemic barriers that have stifled youth participation in governance.