Nepal's uprising and lessons for South Asia

Driving Nepal’s movement was the Gen Z generation.

- By Charitha Herath

The uprisings in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka all reveal the same underlying dynamic: a critical 5% of society—small but decisive—determines the trajectory of these crises

The protests were sustained largely by digitally connected youth, some as young as 13 to 23 years old. Many were too young to vote, yet, armed only with smartphones, they became the decisive force behind regime change.

This marked the emergence of a new form of public power—one that goes beyond the ballot box.

In Sri Lanka, for example, there are about 17 million registered voters, with around 14 million typically casting ballots in crucial elections. Yet, an even larger number now shapes discourse and mobilisation through the digital sphere.

These young activists live in a world of dual realities. Online, they wield influence and visibility that make them feel as powerful as royalty. But on the ground, they remain powerless youth confined to village households. Caught between digital empowerment and real-world marginalisation, they experience a constant dissonance—one that easily transforms into anger and hostility.

Nepali youth in particular see the rising wealth of their neighbours as proof of injustice. This sense of inequity, magnified by social media, eventually erupted into open revolt.