Kathmandu witnessed an unprecedented wave of youth-led demonstrations on Monday as members of Nepal’s Gen Z took to the streets in a spontaneous show of anger against corruption, political disorder, and the government’s recent decision to restrict social media use.
What began early in the morning at Maitighar saw crowds of mostly young students gathering with hand-painted placards and slogans. By 11 am, the march had swelled, moving past Babarmahal and reaching New Baneshwor, a key political hub of the capital. The demonstrators filled both lanes of the main road, their chants and signs signaling a new generation’s discontent with the country’s leaders.
“Gen Z screams, corruption we jeer,” read one placard. Another challenged unchecked expenses: “Where are the taxes going?” Others proclaimed, “Independent voice is our right” and “Stop Corruption.” The slogans reflected frustrations long visible in online spaces but now transformed into raw street energy.
Many of the demonstrators, some still in their school or college uniforms, embodied the immediacy of this movement. What had once been confined to social media posts had spilled onto Kathmandu’s streets with striking force.
Authorities quickly tightened security as the protest entered restricted zones. Security personnel halted the march at New Baneshwor, preventing protesters from reaching the Federal Parliament building, a site they had earlier declared as a demonstration point.
But by midday, tensions escalated. Defiant youths broke through police cordons and clambered over the gates of the Parliament complex. Inside, chants echoed as police responded with rounds of tear gas to disperse the crowds.
In response to the intensifying unrest, the Kathmandu District Administration Office imposed a curfew order in the New Baneshwor area. Beginning at 12:30 pm, the order restricted public movement until 10 pm, a rare step underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Seen from above, drone footage captured a striking panorama: Kathmandu’s wide boulevards blanketed with students and placards, a visual manifestation of a generational call for accountability.
For Nepal’s Gen Z, this was more than just a protest. It was a declaration, their collective entry into the nation’s political landscape, one marked by frustration, urgency, and a demand for change.
Photos: Kamal Prasai
