Is the Gen Z Protest in Nepal a New Weapon of Alarm?

New Delhi, Sep 14 (NationPress) In the wake of alarming events characterized by extensive violence and turmoil in Nepal, the label 'Gen Z' has emerged as a formidable force, teeming with unrestricted, aimless energy that can be harnessed by various influences.

This term represents a contemporary phenomenon, born from the technological revolution that humanity takes pride in, yet simultaneously opens avenues for manipulation, crafting a misleading reality. While Gen Z may seem sociable, the underlying truth reveals a lack of unity, with cutthroat competition at the forefront, where everything must fit into a reel.

Nepal is arguably the first nation to use the term 'Gen Z' to describe and contextualize a situation. While Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also faced student-led upheavals, those movements were not branded as Gen Z.

Students played a pivotal role in both nations in toppling regimes and establishing new ones; however, Nepal's circumstances differ significantly.

The sudden escalation of protests in Nepal, which resulted in the destruction of the three pillars of democracy — Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Executive — cannot simply be regarded as a revolution. This incident was not just about the obliteration of buildings; it symbolized the manifestation of a thought executed through the naive minds of a generation that lacks the maturity to understand the repercussions.

Nepal now finds itself in turmoil, inflicted by its own youth, who ought to have been the foundation of the nation.

In a democratic society, voicing dissent and protesting is crucial. Expressing 'no' is necessary, and the most potent weapon is the electoral process. Elections serve as the optimal method to hold corrupt politicians accountable.

In India, Indira Gandhi faced repercussions in 1977 for perceived missteps, leading to her defeat. Similarly, in 2014, the corrupt Congress-led UPA was ousted, and since then, the once grand party has been in a steady decline, relying on smaller parties for survival.

During the November 2022 elections for the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly in Nepal, voter turnout was recorded at 61 percent — a healthy indication of strong civic engagement. If a significant portion of the electorate was eager to vote, why was that power not utilized to remove the 'corrupt' leaders?

The previous government under KP Sharma Oli made a grave mistake by directing police to shoot at protesting youths. Had the government exercised patience and sensitivity, those fatalities could have been avoided, thus preventing the ensuing chaos.

September 8-10 marked one of the bleakest periods for Nepal, as its democratic foundations were dismantled by a few thousand enraged, misdirected youths who failed to differentiate between a corrupt politician and Parliament, a corrupt judge and the judiciary, or a corrupt bureaucrat and the administration.

In India, during the farmers' protests (2020–2021), when violence erupted and some individuals stormed the Red Fort, desecrating the National Flag, the government could have opted for severe action. However, wise governance exhibited restraint, averting what could have escalated into a major disaster and plunged the nation into chaos.

Prior to that, the anti-CAA protests initiated by various Muslim groups in December 2019 aimed at generating nationwide unrest. Yet, through strategic management, the Modi government contained the agitation, which diminished by March 24, 2020. The government's stance on the CAA was later vindicated, while the claims of its detractors — including Leftist factions, Congress, and the then-ruling AAP government in Delhi — fell apart.

In both instances, external forces aimed to amplify the protests under the pretense of human rights advocacy. Yet both attempts failed due to the prudent handling by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration.

Despite efforts to depict these protests as referendums against the central government, the Modi-led NDA retained power in both 2019 and 2024, while those who incited the unrest were rejected in the states.

Nepalese voters faced a similar decision through their electoral framework — yet they opted not to exercise it. Now, they are facing the consequences.

The identities behind the motivations for the youth's violence, or those who instigated the collapse of democracy's pillars, may remain unknown. However, the damage is irreversible.

While protesters assert their demonstrations were peaceful — why then were jails invaded and police stations looted? Why were members of Gen Z seen wielding dangerous weapons, looting, carrying gas cylinders, and igniting fires in their wake?

The Gen Z protest in Nepal may or may not have been an experiment orchestrated by some provocative thinkers within or beyond the nation's borders, but one truth is evident: the cult-like influence of social media has been both tested and revealed.

This cult's potency has been demonstrated — and this is what countries should be wary of.

A thought that is crafted, disseminated, and distorted to fit an agenda possesses the capacity to jeopardize a nation. This is the new-age weapon. And there is no shortage of disgruntled or avaricious factions, whether political, social, or religious, prepared to fall into the trap and unleash chaos akin to what was observed in Nepal.

Nepal's Gen Z may believe they have successfully dismantled a corrupt regime, and they might have, but the toll they have paid is staggering.

Furthermore, it has instigated fear regarding how social media can be wielded as the ultimate weapon to instigate a collapse within a nation — without bombs, missiles, tanks, or fighter jets, merely the live mass energies directed by a deeply penetrative thought, supported by distorted facts and figures.

(Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in)