Last September’s mob rampages in Nepal did more than torch buildings; they incinerated public trust in the state itself. Parliament, the Supreme Court, ministries, police stations and thousands of government and privately owned buildings were reduced to charred shells. What followed was not merely a political crisis but a systemic shock that exposed the fragility of Nepal’s democratic experiment.
Yet this violence was curiously described in much of the Western media as a “Gen Z revolution.” That label was not just misleading; it was dangerous. It blurred the line between democratic dissent and nihilistic destruction, recasting the burning of institutions as a form of political awakening.
This month’s election has now delivered a dramatic political response. In a stunning upset, a three-year-old party led by rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah — or “Balen,” as he is popularly known — has swept to power, ending the dominance of Nepal’s established parties, especially the two main communist parties. At 35, Balen embodies a public demand for rupture with the past.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.