Rayees Masroor:
The landlocked Himalayan nation of Nepal, known for its mountains and resilience, is now caught in one of its deepest democratic crises since the 1990s. What began as a government move to control social media platforms quickly spiraled into a countrywide uprising led by a restless Generation Z. For these young Nepalis, the ban was not just about Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. It symbolized something larger: anger over rampant corruption, nepotism, joblessness, and a political elite that seemed increasingly detached from ordinary citizens.
The protests that erupted in Kathmandu and beyond left the world watching scenes of burning infrastructure, deserted streets under curfew, and a government forced to deploy the army. With Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli resigning and the social media ban lifted, Nepal has entered a new phase of uncertainty. The future of its fragile democracy hangs in the balance.
The Deeper Roots of the Crisis
While officials framed the ban as a technical issue linked to taxation and registration, protesters understood it differently. For them, it was censorship, an attempt to silence dissenting voices. The real frustration ran much deeper. Corruption, nepotism, and economic inequality had long eaten away at public trust. Transparency International has consistently ranked Nepal poorly on corruption indices, and the lavish lifestyles of political families contrasted sharply with the bleak reality of millions of struggling citizens.
As one young protester told Reuters, “They want to silence us online because they cannot answer us in real life.”
Corruption and Collusion
The first and most significant factor is corruption. Successive governments, regardless of party, have faced allegations of embezzlement and misuse of funds. During Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda’s” regime, limited progress was made in investigating cases involving leaders of the UML (Communist Party of Nepal–Unified Marxist Leninist) and the Nepali Congress. But when probes began to threaten senior politicians, the two rival parties—despite their ideological differences—joined hands in a power-sharing arrangement.
One party claimed to be communist, the other democratic, but for many Nepalis the alliance symbolized collusion to protect vested interests. As political scientist Larry Diamond has argued globally, “When corruption becomes systemic, democracy is hollowed out from within.” In Nepal, that hollowing was now visible.
The Rise of “Nepo Kids”
The second factor fueling public anger was the phenomenon of “Nepo kids.” Children of senior politicians flaunted their wealth, imported cars, and foreign degrees on social media. In a country where youth unemployment hovers around 20%, such displays deepened resentment. “We cannot even afford bus fare to job interviews while they drive Lamborghinis,” a university student told Al Jazeera. The symbolism of privilege and arrogance became a rallying point for students, especially in Kathmandu.
Silencing Opposition Voices
The third factor was the suppression of opposition, most notably the sidelining and imprisonment of Rabi Lamichhane, the charismatic leader of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party. His removal left Parliament virtually without an effective opposition. For young Nepalis, it looked like a rigged game of “musical chairs” where leaders Oli and Sher Bahadur Deuba could alternate in power indefinitely. Social media censorship, therefore, became the spark that lit the fire.
When protests turned violent, security forces cracked down, killing 19 demonstrators. Oli’s resignation was seen as both a victory for the protesters and an indictment of Nepal’s political class.
Structural Fault Lines
Beyond immediate triggers, Nepal’s instability is rooted in unresolved historical issues. Constitutional disputes around federalism, persistent ethnic divides between hill elites and Madhesi or Janajati communities, and recurring economic crises have long weakened the state. Governance remains fragile, and geopolitical pressures further complicate matters.
As former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan once warned, “A society that cuts itself off from the demands of its young people is cutting itself off from its own future.” Nepal’s leadership had failed to heed this lesson.
Regional Implications
The crisis in Nepal is not occurring in isolation. South Asia has already witnessed mass uprisings in Sri Lanka in 2022 and in Bangladesh earlier this year. Like Nepal, both countries faced youth-driven protests against corruption, inequality, and elite arrogance. The parallels are striking: in each case, governments underestimated the power of an angry, digitally connected generation.
For Nepal’s 30 million people, the crisis also carries international dimensions. Historically close to India, Nepal under Oli tilted toward Beijing. His resignation has sparked speculation of a foreign policy shift. Both India and China, deeply invested in Nepal’s economy and infrastructure, are watching carefully. Analysts in Washington and Brussels also see Nepal’s trajectory as part of a larger struggle between democratic accountability and authoritarian tendencies in Asia.
The Road Ahead
Nepal now stands at a crossroads. The resignation of Oli may have calmed tensions temporarily, but the underlying grievances remain unresolved. Youth demand jobs, accountability, and inclusion. Civil society calls for stronger institutions and less corruption. And the geopolitical balancing act between India and China remains delicate.
The question is whether Nepal’s leaders will learn from this moment or repeat the mistakes of the past. If they choose dialogue and reform, Nepal could harness its youth energy as a force for renewal. If not, unrest could deepen, leading to further instability.
As Vaclav Havel, the Czech dissident-turned-president, once said, “Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.” Nepal’s young protesters embody that sense today. They are demanding a democracy that makes sense, not just on paper but in practice.
The Himalayan nation’s future now depends on whether its political elite will listen.
(Note: Rayees Masroor is a columnist and academician from north Kashmir, writing on education, society, politics, and youth issues.)
