Nepal’s Gen Z core committee members Tanaka Dhami and Arjun Shahi, in an exclusive interview with India Today TV, explained that the youth-led protests, which shook the country, were never about short-term political gains but about laying the foundation for a corruption-free system. With more than 60 people killed and hundreds injured during the demonstrations, the young leaders said the sacrifices would not go in vain. They described their movement as a turning point in the nation’s history, aimed at uprooting corruption and building a future where young citizens have genuine opportunities at home rather than being forced to migrate abroad.
Both Dhami and Shahi emphasised that Nepal urgently needs international collaboration to rebuild its economy. They openly welcomed investments from India and other nations, saying that the revolution is not about shutting doors but about creating an environment where foreign and domestic investments can coexist to strengthen Nepal’s economy. For them, the central demand is to end decades of corrupt practices and ensure that the average citizen has access to basic services, which they argued have long been denied by entrenched political elites.
The Gen Z leaders also made it clear that their protests were never directed against just one leader, like former Prime Minister KP Oli, who resigned shortly after the unrest began. Instead, they stressed that the entire political establishment—comprising leaders, parties, and bureaucrats—was responsible for the country’s decline. They accused these figures of misgovernance that left ordinary Nepalese in poverty and despair. Responding to allegations of violent demonstrations, Dhami and Shahi placed the blame squarely on politicians, pointing to the killing of 22 members of their movement as evidence that the violence was instigated by the state rather than the protesters themselves.
Now that Sushila Karki has stepped in as interim Prime Minister, the Gen Z committee members have clarified that they are not seeking political office for themselves. Instead, they see their role as rebuilding Nepal’s governance system and acting as watchdogs to hold the new government accountable. Shahi described the revolution as a one-of-a-kind moment in history, something that cannot and should not be repeated, but which must result in lasting reforms. The focus now, they said, is not on who occupies power but on how efficiently and honestly the government functions.
Another major focus for the movement is constitutional reform. While rejecting speculation that they intended to discard the Constitution altogether, Dhami said the goal was to amend only those parts that had historically shielded politicians and bureaucrats at the expense of ordinary citizens. The Constitution, they emphasised, remains an important national framework, but it must be reshaped to align with the interests of the people rather than the political class.
The movement also highlighted its commitment to maintaining Nepal’s religious harmony. Dhami and Shahi rejected suggestions that Nepal was moving toward becoming a Hindu Rashtra, noting that the country is the birthplace of both Hinduism and Buddhism and has always been a land of diverse faiths coexisting peacefully. They insisted that their revolution was rooted in humanity rather than religion, stressing that unity across communities was essential to building a strong, modern Nepal.
Social media played a crucial role in the rapid mobilisation of young Nepalese during the protests. Dhami explained that maturity is not measured by age but by experience, highlighting that within just 17 hours, their movement was able to spark a revolution unlike anything in the nation’s history. While they drew inspiration from figures like Mahatma Gandhi, they said their model was tailored for today’s youth-driven, digitally connected generation.
The committee members also spoke highly of India’s leadership, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They credited him with transforming India into one of the world’s top three economies and expressed admiration for his global stature. They said Nepal welcomes closer ties with India and sees value in aligning with its neighbour for mutual growth and development. This acknowledgment underscores that while the Gen Z movement is firmly focused on reforming Nepal’s internal systems, it remains open to positive bilateral engagement with regional partners.
Through their words, Dhami and Shahi made clear that the Gen Z revolution is only the beginning. Their vision stretches beyond immediate protests, aiming for long-term accountability, systemic reforms, economic justice, and social inclusivity. The young leaders believe that Nepal has reached a do-or-die moment, and the momentum generated by the youth movement will continue until their objectives are firmly realised.
