Nepal is a beautiful, proud, and diverse country. The Himalayas, hills, and Terai provide it with a unique geography, while the multiplicity of languages, coexistence of religions, and cultural diversity add to its social beauty. Figures like Gautam Buddha, King Janak, Sita, and the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest, along with Lumbini and numerous other historical and cultural heritages, have given Nepal a unique identity on the global stage. Yet despite such glorious treasures, Nepal has long been mired in corruption, factionalism, nepotism, incompetent leadership, and favoritism. At every political turning point, people have sacrificed, but the dream of good governance, transparency, and justice has always remained unfulfilled.
Today, Nepal is witnessing a new wave of protests led by Generation Z against widespread corruption, irregularities, injustice, oppression, authoritarianism, restrictions on freedom of expression, nepotism, and favoritism. In this movement, the government has used excessive force, including shooting directly at Gen Z youths—the very backbone of the nation—resulting in the tragic deaths of many young students. These events have exposed the deep political, social, and administrative crisis of Nepal. Reports of unarmed students in school uniforms being brutally shot by state security forces during peaceful demonstrations have spread fear that even citizens are not safe in their own country. At least 19 young people have already lost their lives, and over 450 have been injured. Hospitals in Kathmandu, Dharan, Itahari, Pokhara, and Sudurpaschim, such as Trauma Center, Civil, Bir, Everest, KMC, and Patan Health Institute, are treating critically injured youths, while news of continued clashes and attacks by security forces has pierced the hearts of every Nepali.
Shooting unarmed children in school uniforms demanding justice and good governance can never be justified. This is not just an irresponsible act by security personnel but a crime directly instructed by the political leadership. It violates Nepal’s constitution, domestic laws, and international standards such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Such actions risk portraying Nepal globally as a violator of human rights.
Corruption in Nepal is no longer limited to politics and administration—it has penetrated social life, values, and morality. For decades, major political parties have prioritized their partisan and personal interests above the nation and people. Public resources have been treated as private property, while nepotism, favoritism, and flattery have deprived honest citizens of opportunities. Vital sectors such as judiciary, education, health, and administration have been trapped in political interference and factional interests, weakening citizens’ trust, faith, and national identity.
In such circumstances, the new generation—especially Gen Z—cannot remain silent. Born between 1997 and 2012, this first digital generation has empowered itself through the internet, social media, and technology. Their mindset, values, and perspectives differ from older generations. They prioritize justice, equality, human rights, environmental protection, diversity, and good governance. Their movement is not for personal gain but for collective welfare and long-term societal transformation. This awareness has driven them from social media into the streets in active protest.
The Gen Z movement is not merely an expression of dissatisfaction; it is an eruption of decades of accumulated pain and injustice. They question whether national leadership exists merely for power and wealth or for service, responsibility, and protection of people’s rights. Their answer is clear: “We can no longer be deceived.” It is this dignity, anger, and commitment to the future that fuels their protests.
Unlike past political movements, which were largely driven by partisan or personal interests and resulted in the repetition of the same corrupt practices, the Gen Z uprising is focused on the nation’s collective interest. Its aim is to build a system based on justice, transparency, good governance, and meritocracy. This movement has awakened civic consciousness. Many people are abandoning their servile mentality, rejecting blind party loyalty, resigning from memberships, and independently standing against wrongs in society. If successful, this movement could redefine democracy in Nepal, where leadership would be about service and responsibility, not power and property.
Still, the challenges are immense. Political parties are trying to weaken, discredit, or exploit the movement for their own benefit. The culture of ignoring public interest while in power but pretending to advocate for youth and citizens while in opposition has been consistent across old political parties. There is also evidence of party-directed groups infiltrating protests and inciting violence to derail the movement. Weak leadership and poor strategy among protesters themselves could also pose risks. Thus, Gen Z must ensure discipline, clear strategies, transparent and capable leadership, and internal unity.
A significant strength of this movement lies in its widespread support. Not only citizens within Nepal but also the diaspora abroad have openly endorsed it. Discussions have reached international forums via social media. With intellectuals, conscious citizens, journalists, artists, and the diaspora joining hands with the youth, the movement’s influence is likely to expand far beyond the streets—into ideas, debates, and national consciousness.
The recent tragic shootings have already drawn global attention to Nepal. The killing of innocent youth has brought Nepal under intense criticism as a violator of human rights. Public demands for impartial investigation and strict punishment of perpetrators are growing. International human rights organizations, the United Nations, the European Union, Amnesty International, and others have been urged by youth activists to hold the Nepali government accountable. Failure to ensure justice risks a repeat of such inhumane crimes.
On social media, the trend “Dear Balen, Take Lead Now or Never!” is gaining momentum, signaling youth frustration with hollow leadership of old parties and their search for new, capable, and honest leadership. They see hope in figures like Balen Shah. Other widely respected personalities such as Gopi, Harka, Rabi, Kulman, Mahabir Pun, and Gyanendra Shahi have also expressed support. If such leaders step forward actively, the movement’s success will become more likely, opening the path toward ending corruption, injustice, and authoritarianism in Nepal.
Nepal now stands at a crossroads: one path leads deeper into the darkness of corruption, oppression, nepotism, and factionalism, while the other opens toward good governance, transparency, and a prosperous future. Gen Z’s movement has laid the foundation for realizing that possibility. But this must not remain only a youth-led struggle—it must become a collective campaign of all Nepalis. Intellectuals, conscious citizens, students, teachers, professors, employees, artists, journalists, the general public, and the diaspora must not only voice support but also actively participate. Only when society as a whole rise against the hypocrisy and selfishness of old political parties can this movement become truly decisive.
Gen Z Nepal’s press release has made clear that the national anti-corruption movement will continue relentlessly and no attempt to derail it will succeed. Young Nepalis, shedding their blood in the fight against corruption, misrule, and repression, have raised serious questions against the government’s silence and its insensitivity toward public sacrifices. Against this backdrop, Gen Z has put forward five major demands: dissolution of parliament, collective resignation of lawmakers, immediate suspension of high-ranking officials who ordered shootings and violent crackdowns, formation of an interim government under a leader recommended by the movement to establish a constitutional amendment commission and implement a direct electoral system, and swift elections under the interim government. These demands require the support, unity, and solidarity of all Nepalis.
To end corruption, injustice, oppression, and discrimination in Nepal and to build equality, justice, and good governance for securing the lives of present and future generations, all students, teachers, professors, employees, and the general public must abandon the mentality of servitude, reject blind loyalty to any political party, and instead let their own conscience guide them in distinguishing right from wrong. They must resign from party memberships and independently and rationally stand on the side of truth, justice, and citizens’ rights.
If we remain silent today, our country will be pushed deeper into darkness. But if we rise together with Gen Z, Nepal can move toward a new era based on justice, transparency, equality, and good governance. The sacrifices of our youths must not go in vain. For truth, justice, and the future, let us all unite. The success of this movement will not only liberate us from present suffering but also provide future generations with an environment of equality, opportunity, and justice.
— Dammar Singh Saud, Assistant Professor, Darchula Multiple Campus, Far Western University Nepal
