Maintaining the schedule for Nepal's elections is an absolute imperative for the resilience of its democracy
Nepal's Generation Z remains caught in a fraught liminal moment, in a country still reverberating from September's protests that shook its political foundations and ignited hopes of renewal. The wave of youth-led demonstrations earlier this year marked one of the most dramatic episodes in Nepal's modern history. The caretaker government is now at the helm, legacy politicians are circling, and the nation keenly awaits crucial early elections scheduled for March. Amid this uncertainty, it is essential to emphasize that timely, fair elections are not just a procedural milestone but fundamental to safeguarding Nepal's democracy from regression and manipulation. Any delay or deviation would betray the courage and aspirations of the new generation and empower those who have long undermined accountable governance.
Nepal's 2025 Gen Z movement transcended traditional campus activism, igniting as a direct response to the government's sweeping ban on 26 social media platforms and quickly mushrooming into a national revolt against corruption, elite privilege, and enduring political inertia. Hashtags evolved into mass mobilizations, turning Kathmandu into a vivid tableau of resistance as angry youth confronted an unyielding state, culminating in violence that eclipsed the tragic toll of the 2006 pro-democracy movement. Outrage surged with images of burned government offices and relentless digital activism, ultimately forcing Prime Minister Oli's resignation and placing Sushila Karki, a respected jurist but political outsider, in a caretaker role. The reversal of the social media ban came swiftly, propelled by international outrage and public pressure for transparency. Yet, the initial promise of rapid change has faded, replaced by a sense of stalemate that is now permeating public debate and everyday conversation.
Public mourning and official inquiries have occurred, notable gestures have been made by the interim government, and the victims' families have received attention. However, real reform remains elusive. Ministries that were at first purged of their most controversial figures have gradually restocked with familiar bureaucratic faces, and urgent calls for genuine civic dialogue or structural overhaul slip past with each passing day. The old political elite, figures from Nepali Congress, UML, and Maoists, have returned, promising expertise but delivering the same reluctance to confront patronage, entrenched networks, and youth unemployment that originally provoked revolt. The risk for Nepal is well-known and mirrors broader South Asian patterns: without clear direction after a revolution, energy dissipates, optimism wanes, and traditional power-brokers exploit the pause, quietly reinstating the status quo. It is in this volatile gap between rupture and renewal that Nepal's Gen Z must decide the course of their movement.
Nepal's predicament resonates with cycles observed in Egypt, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh-nations where youth-led transformation briefly toppled governments but failed to assemble durable alternatives or resist the relentless pressures exerted by counter-revolutionary forces. In Sri Lanka, the celebrated Aragalaya movement compelled a president to resign but, without a coherent follow-up strategy, quickly ceded ground to experienced politicians. Egypt saw the aftermath of its own revolution devolve into stricter repression, negating hard-won freedoms. Bangladesh's uprisings flared with impressive momentum, only to dissolve into division and fatigue as the old guard reclaimed control. For Nepal's Gen Z, these cautionary tales signal that real change requires more than the explosive force of protest-it demands sustained coalition-building, deep institutional engagement, and strategic activism that endures well beyond the urgency of the initial explosion.
Maintaining the schedule for Nepal's elections is an absolute imperative for the resilience of its democracy. Any delay or attempt at manipulation would risk reinforcing deep public suspicion, further emboldening political opportunists, and potentially disenfranchising the youth whose sacrifices opened the door to this moment. Timely elections are the gateway for young leaders and reformers to convert their street-level mobilization into parliamentary representation, solidify anti-corruption reforms, and safeguard the civil liberties for which Gen Z fought so fiercely. Without elections conducted on schedule-the visible promise of transition and accountability-the cycle of revolt, regression, and fleeting renewal will simply repeat, amplifying cynicism and undermining the broader hope for transformation.
If Nepal is to escape the fate of its regional peers, Gen Z must now pivot from protest to institution-building. It is not enough to be agents of outrage; this is the time to become architects of policy, champions of inclusivity, and strategic partners willing to work across generational divides. Digital tools such as TikTok and Discord provided the initial momentum, but coalition-building, negotiation, and disciplined engagement with policy are the only means of transforming a spontaneous movement into durable governance. The interim government's palpable inertia risks demobilizing new voters and emboldening entrenched elites unless young activists broaden the civic dialogue, forge credible leadership, and lay out a truly coherent legislative program.
Nepal now stands at the vulnerable beginning of what could, with discipline and unity, become a transformative era. Gen Z's capacity to translate their activism into broad alliances, to rebuild and redefine democratic practice rather than simply expel unpopular leaders, will determine whether the current crisis becomes a stepping stone or another tragic loop in history. Persistence in policy engagement, the construction of new institutions attuned to accountability and inclusion, a transparent process resistant to recycled promises, these tasks are generational, and only their sustained pursuit will ensure progress.
In the end, keeping elections on track is the essential guardrail Nepal needs to avoid relapse. The future will be forged not only by those who ignite protest but by those who shoulder the burdens of rebuilding, maintaining unity, and providing authentic vision. If Nepal's youth rise to this formidable challenge, they may finally break the debilitating cycle of failed revolutions and guide their country toward a lasting, participatory, and just renewal.
Prof C K Peela is a geopolitical and security expert on South Asia and Asia Pacific
