Gen-Z Upheaval in Nepal: A Look at the Controversial Demonstrations in the Latest Edition of Outlook
In the October 1, 2025 issue of Outlook, a cover package titled 'Nepal: Gen Z Sets Boundaries' takes centre stage. This issue, which includes articles by Dinesh Kafle and Ruchira Gupta, among others, offers a comprehensive look at the current state of affairs in Nepal.
Seema Guha, the consulting editor of Outlook, writes about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his diplomatic relations with Nepal. Meanwhile, Dinesh Kafle, a writer and academic, provides an insightful account of his own days of protest against the monarchy and sees a continuity in the current protests. His article, "OK, Boomer, Time's Up", is featured in this cover package.
Ruchira Gupta, an Emmy-winning documentarian and writer, takes us back to the 80s when democracy in Nepal was a whispered hope and a dangerous word. In her article, 'Throwback to the 80s', she shows how voices carried across borders to rattle an entrenched monarchy and how constitutionalism finally found a foothold.
The youth of Nepal, specifically Gen-Z, have been protesting in the streets of Kathmandu. These protests, which started peacefully on September 8 with flowers and chants, have escalated due to police action using tear gas and gunfire. The protests are seeking accountability from their former liberators due to widespread corruption, a controversial social media ban, unemployment, and political instability. Over 70 deaths have been reported, and the protests have intensified calls for clean leadership and transparency.
The issue also features a ground report from Punjab by Sandeep Singh titled "Curse of the Cusecs." In this report, Singh discusses the impact of floods on farms and fields, the political battles over reservoirs and water-sharing, and the echoes of 1988 when accusations of deliberate flooding led to bloodshed.
The regular section Overlap explores how lakes in India are turning into potential weapons of mass destruction under the pressure of climate change. Nizam Pasha provides a sharp legal update on the Supreme Court's (interim) ruling on Wakf properties.
Lastly, the edition features a ground report from Nepal by Snighdendhu Bhattacharya. This report offers a detailed look at the consequences of crossing, challenging, or erasing boundaries, collectively drawn by these stories, including generational, geographical, ecological, and political boundaries.
These articles collectively draw a map of boundaries and show the consequences of crossing, challenging, or erasing those boundaries. They serve as a testament to the power of youth, the resilience of a nation, and the tectonic shifts that have occurred over two decades in India and Nepal, water, and climate.
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