Last month, on 8 and 9 September, an extremely significant and unexpected event rocked Nepal when massive protests took over Kathmandu and other Nepalese cities. The protest was started and led by young people, mainly from Gen Z.

The protest was primarily against corruption, which has been a major issue in Nepal for decades. It began peacefully but quickly devolved into violence. It was one of Nepal’s most historic protests, bringing down the government led by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli in just 27 hours. At least 70 people were killed and more than 2,100 injured.

Monday 8 September

The protest started very simply. Some young people were discussing online how tired they were of the government’s corruption. They were frustrated because leaders were not doing their jobs honestly. People were dissatisfied with bad roads, poor education, overpriced healthcare and the misuse of our hard-earned taxes. So, a small group of youth, including students, workers, artists and social media users, decided to gather and speak up against the wrongdoings.

They planned a peaceful protest in Kathmandu near Maitighar Mandala, a famous spot for demonstrations. The protest was not organised by a political party. It was started by normal young people who used TikTok to share information about the protest. Within a few hours, thousands of people had shown up.

The protesters were carrying placards with the words ‘stop corruption’, ‘no more dirty politics’, ‘we want justice’ and ‘we are awake now’. Some wrote messages on their faces or hands. People were chanting slogans, singing protest songs and clapping hands. It was peaceful, powerful and full of energy.

But then things started to change. The number of people kept increasing. The police arrived and asked people to leave. Some refused because it was a peaceful protest. The police then started using batons to disperse the crowd.

Social media videos showed police hitting, chasing and shooting protesters, as well as arresting some of them.

According to the Kathmandu Post, just before 1pm on Monday 8 September, security personnel inside the Parliament building started firing on the crowd outside. Many protesters were injured and had to be taken to the nearby hospital, which was soon overrun with casualties. There weren’t enough beds and doctors had to treat the wounded wherever they could.

The Kathmandu Post reported on the dramatic events in the New Baneshwar area, where Parliament is located: “Some youths bared their chests, daring police to shoot. Others shielded themselves behind barricades. One protester, draped in the national flag, collapsed dead on the street. Ambulances could not keep pace. Smoke curled above the Parliament area. Young voices turned from chants to screams.”

By the end of the day, 19 people were dead.

Tuesday 9 September

The government imposed a curfew to control the chaos. However, irate Nepalis, due to the injuries and killings, decided to teach the government a lesson the next day. Noisy and violent protests continued across the capital and in other cities.

Several historical buildings, and public and private properties, including the main government administrative office (Singha Durbar), Parliament House, police stations and political leaders’ houses, including those of the prime minister and president, were set on fire.

“The protests led by the Gen Z youth weren’t just about anger. It was a desperate cry for a system that works for ordinary people. At their core, they were fuelled by corruption that has hollowed the nation,” he told Harbingers’. “Young people face sky-high unemployment and economic inequality.”

He added: “Social media exposed the lavish lives of politicians’ children, ‘nepo kids’, which further elevated the fury. The immediate trigger, though, was the government’s hasty decision to impose a ban on social media in early September.”

According to Rai, while the ban was framed as a security measure amid rising online criticism, it backfired spectacularly, cutting off the very tools Gen-Z used to communicate, and some even used it as a means to provide themselves employment.

“What started as peaceful online campaigns and small rallies swelled into mass demonstrations.”