A REPUBLIC IN RUINS

Beneath Kathmandu's flames lies a generational rupture, where Nepal's young demand change, exposing fractures between royalist resurgence, democratic failures, and the shadow of great power rivalries

- DIPANKAR DEY

A massive protest in Nepal by young citizens (Gen Z) has compelled PM KP Sharma Oli and President Ramchandra Paudel to resign and leave the country on September 9. In Nepal, 56% of its population is below 30 years of age, compared with 37% in Bangladesh and 30% in Sri Lanka. The Himalayan capital is in flames. At least 30 people have died during the three days when the agitation was at its peak. The Parliament, government buildings, and private residences of present and past ministers have been burned. Ministers were chased and stripped on the streets. The wife of a former PM has been burnt to death. Chants of "KP chor, desh chhod (Oli is a thief, quit the country)" reverberated in the air across the capital. The army took control of Kathmandu. On September 10, the "Gen Z" groups who spearheaded the protests distanced themselves from the destruction, saying it was "hijacked" by "opportunists".

Initially, the protest started against a ban on apps and social media platforms. A few days before the ban on apps, a "nepo kid" campaign, spotlighting the lavish lifestyles of the children of Nepalese politicians and allegations of corruption, flooded social media. The agitation continued even after the withdrawal of the ban and the resignation of the home minister. Videos shared on social media showed the mobs beating up ex-PM Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, and foreign minister Arzu Rana Deuba. The mob also set a house belonging to former prime minister Jhala Nath Khanal on fire in Dallu. His wife, Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, sustained serious burn injuries and succumbed to death at a hospital. Prime Minister Oli's private