Katmandu’s streets bear the marks of revolution: bloodstains on sidewalks washed by late monsoon rains, broken porcelain in looted politicians’ residences, and the acrid smell of smoke from burning public buildings, reports the Financial Times (FT).
A black marker on the marble wall of Nepal’s parliament, torched last week, captures the moment best:
“From now on, only Generation Z will be here. Corrupt leaders will be driven out. Long live Nepal. Long live Generation Z.”
Generation Z Takes the Streets
The protests in Nepal, dubbed the “Generation Z rebellion”—referring to those born between 1997 and 2012—saw young people, some in school uniforms, take to the streets against what they viewed as outdated and corrupt political elites, according to FT.
After two days of deadly and destructive protests, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday. Police reported that 51 people were killed nationwide, and nearly 1,400 were injured.
The initial spark for the protests was the ban of major social media platforms, but the unrest quickly became a focal point of long-standing dissatisfaction with politicians and their families, widely perceived as corrupt.
“We were there to protest corruption. They can ban us online, but we can still take to the streets and demand answers—where does our tax money go, how do they live luxuriously on public salaries while we barely survive?” said Anjali Shah, a 24-year-old law student who witnessed police firing live ammunition at protesters.
Regional Trend
Nepal, with a median age of 25, below the Asian average of 32, exemplifies a broader regional trend where older leaders clash with ambitious, often unemployed youth frustrated by stagnant politics and lack of opportunities.
Similar movements have occurred across South and Southeast Asia:
- Sri Lanka (2022): Tens of thousands of young protesters stormed the presidential palace, forcing President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country.
- Bangladesh (2024): University students launched mass protests that challenged authoritarian leadership.
- Indonesia (2025): Students protested lawmakers awarding themselves extravagant housing allowances; President Prabowo Subianto (73) responded by revoking privileges and dismissing the finance minister.
Common factors: entrenched political elites, rising youth unemployment, pervasive corruption, and wealth concentrated among a small group while ordinary citizens struggle.
The Role of Social Media
Nepal’s uprising gained momentum online. Weeks before the ban, platforms like Instagram and TikTok were flooded with videos showcasing politicians’ children enjoying luxury cars, vacations, and designer goods under hashtags like #NepoKid and #NepoBabies.
These videos inflamed public sentiment in a country ranked 107th of 180 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, with a per capita GDP of just $1,400.
“Citizens don’t even have salt, and you eat from gold and silver plates,” read one Instagram post featuring politicians’ children drinking champagne.
Gen Z Moves Beyond Protests
Youth movements are now translating their activism into political engagement:
- In Bangladesh, students formed the National Civic Party, announcing plans for a new constitution if elected.
- In Sri Lanka, youth played a key role in electing left-wing outsider Anura Kumara Dissanayake as president.
- In Nepal, Gen Z representatives appointed former Supreme Court President Sushila Karki to lead a transitional government, dissolved parliament, and scheduled new elections for March.
Streets in Katmandu are now calmer, but young people continue rebuilding the country amidst the ruins.
“What unites Gen Z is our age and frustration. We took to the streets demanding accountability and transparency. We partly followed examples from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. We didn’t think we could topple an entire political regime in just two days,” said Jatish Ojha (25), a protester.
