3 weeks ago
Nepal's Gen Z Protests Offer India Lessons, Journalist Argues
Some young people in Nepal, part of a generation called Gen Z, were very angry at their government.
They believed their leaders were corrupt and were not listening to them.
In September 2025, they went out on the streets to protest in Kathmandu, the capital city.
The police fired at the crowd, and more than twelve students who were shot later died in hospitals.
The next day, the protests became much bigger and very destructive.
Angry crowds burned and broke many important buildings, such as courts, government offices and police posts.
The army had to step in to stop the violence and bring peace back.
Because of what happened, the prime minister had to quit his job.
New leaders took over and promised elections for a new parliament.
A journalist from Nepal wrote this story to warn India to listen to its own young people so the same chaos does not happen there.
Nepal's Gen Z anti-corruption protests, triggered by a government ban on 26 social media platforms, turned deadly when police opened fire in Kathmandu on September 8, 2025, killing over a dozen students.
On September 9, Nepal suffered a total breakdown of law and order, with the Supreme Court, the Parliament building, Singha Durbar, police posts and ministers' quarters attacked, looted or set ablaze.
Prime Minister KP Oli resigned, an interim government was formed under former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, and elections were announced for the House of Representatives.
Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which emerged as the largest force, and a new government was formed under his leadership.
In India, NEET paper leaks and remarks by a Supreme Court judge catalyzed youth protests, and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan led the Cockroach Janta Party to call off immediate protests, though they could resume.
- Who
- Gen Z students and young protesters; the Government of Nepal under Prime Minister KP Oli; police who opened fire; former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, who led the interim government; and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, who formed the new government.
- What
- Anti-corruption youth protests that escalated into deadly violence and a breakdown of law and order, leading to the prime minister's resignation, an interim government and new elections.
- Where
- Kathmandu, Nepal; the article also compares the events to youth protests in New Delhi, India.
- When
- September 8-9, 2025, with the political fallout unfolding over the following months.
- Why
- Years of malgovernance, corruption and a lack of opportunities for young people, triggered by the government's ban on 26 social media platforms.
Protesters and Youth Movement
Government and Old Establishment
Responsibility for the September 8-9 violence
Protesters and Youth Movement
Police opened fire on student protesters and government ministers spoke of Gen Z youth in denigrating terms, turning a peaceful protest deadly.
Government and Old Establishment
Protesters attacked, looted, vandalised and set ablaze courts, government buildings and homes on September 9, and movement leaders lack a reasonable justification for the anarchy.
Foreign conspiracy theory
Protesters and Youth Movement
The protests were an expression of genuine, years-long frustration over corruption, malgovernance and a lack of youth opportunity.
Government and Old Establishment
Some political actors of the pre-protest order claim the episode was orchestrated by 'foreign elements' bent on destabilising South Asia, though the article says the claims are hard to substantiate.
Whether the youth can govern
Protesters and Youth Movement
Protest leaders were driven to the streets because the government ignored their legitimate concerns, and most of them now lead the government.
Government and Old Establishment
Supporters of the old establishment say the protest leaders lack the skills and acumen to run the country, pointing to the new government's failure to deliver on promises.
Key facts
- Protests
- Gen Z anti-corruption protests on September 8-9, 2025
- Deaths
- Over a dozen students shot by police died while undergoing treatment in hospitals
- Buildings attacked
- Singha Durbar, Supreme Court, Parliament building, police posts, ministers' quarters, hotels and supermarkets
- Social media ban
- 26 platforms banned by the government
- Resigned prime minister
- KP Oli
- Interim government
- Led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki
- Restoring order
- Nepal Army mobilised after appealing for calm
- New government
- Balendra Shah, Kathmandu Mayor and leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party
Sources
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