Nepal erupts WHAT HAPPENED IN NEPAL CAN HAPPEN TO US, TOO

Nepal is unique among South Asian nations. Alongside Tiny Bhutan, Landlocked Nepal was never fully colonised by the British, and its distinguished Gurkha soldiers were first hired by the British military as far back as 1815.

- By Gamini Akmeemana

Though poor (Per capita income USD 1,447) Nepal has room (147, 181 sq. km) for its 29.6 million people. Despite the poverty, country looks blessed -- Nagarkot, a popular tourist spot in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, offers a stunning view of the Himalayas.

Nepal has known violence in its recent history - its royal family was almost wiped out, shot by a family member, in 2001, and the country has waged war against Maoist guerrillas (the rebellion ended in 2006). The monarchy was officially abolished in 2008, and the country is now a 'federal democratic republic,' the federal part reflecting the country's different ethnicities. Nepal has been spared the lengthy separatist insurgencies (the Maoist insurgency was relatively short) and the ethno-religious hate-fuelled violence of its bigger neighbours, being spared of both Hindu and Muslim extremism. The country is a magnet for tourists, with its tourism sector recovering from Covid to register 1, 147,567 tourist arrivals in 2024, a 13% growth over the previous year. Many tourists visit the country for a glimpse of the Himalayas.

But the country's young are not in a mood to enjoy the view. Violence erupted on September 9 with 'Gen Z' youngsters taking to the streets in Kathmandu, clashing violently with the police. The reason was seen as a ban by the government on several popular social media platforms including Instagram and Face Book.