From Ban to Blaze: How Kathmandu’s Youth Ignited Nepal’s Reckoning
- Agnius Vaicekauskas
- Sep 28
- 8 min read
Kathmandu in Flames: Beyond conflict
While I rarely write about conflicts, my unexpected visit to Nepal—originally for an entirely different purpose—coincided with the explosive unrest in Kathmandu. Witnessing the intense clash between the government and ordinary Nepali citizens left a profound impact on me. Compelled by the raw emotions and stark realities I encountered, I feel driven to share my observations and reflections on the groundswell of frustration and resilience that defined this moment.
Have you ever walked into a city and sensed its soul had been cracked open? Two days after the conflict in Kathmandu, I landed in Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), thinking that I will also face delays or cancelations, because of the fuzz created in social media, even people I planned long time to meet with were not sure if they can meet. I took a cab to my hotel and the driver’s name Krishna’ (name changed) was keen to talk. While driving I observer increased amount of military on the entry to every main street. Burned-out cars lined the streets. Government buildings lay gutted. Glass shards glinted like broken dreams. In the quiet between sirens, people moved like ghosts—silent, observing burned down hotels and stunned, trying to see what was left, questioning their own realities and understanding of it.
What I witnessed was more than damage. It was a mirror held up to deep currents of frustration, despair, and hope. And in that mirror, you and I must ask: how does deeply ingrained cause of corruption explode into violence, and what’s left in its wake?
What Sparked the Flames: Roots of the Conflict
Nepal ranks 131st in the 2025 Index of Economic Freedom, reflecting constraints like weak rule of law, limited property rights, and regulatory inefficiencies that deter foreign investment.
This precarious state didn't emerge overnight. Nepal's economic trajectory has been shaped by decades of political turbulence, natural disasters, and external shocks. Following the end of the decade-long Maoist insurgency in 2006 and the transition to a federal republic in 2008, the country experienced frequent government changes—over a dozen prime ministers in as many years—leading to policy inconsistency and stalled reforms. The devastating 2015 earthquake disrupted infrastructure and tourism, a key revenue source, while the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated inequalities, slashing growth to negative territory and forcing millions into poverty. Remittances, which account for nearly a quarter of GDP, have been a lifeline, but they highlight Nepal's dependence on low-skilled labour migration to countries like India, Malaysia, and the Gulf states. Chronic underinvestment in education and skills training has left a burgeoning youth population—over 40% under 25—trapped in underemployment or forced abroad, fuelling brain drain and social discontent. Compounding this, entrenched corruption and nepotism have siphoned public resources, widening the gap between a privileged elite and the masses, with economic losses from recent unrest alone estimated at $22.5 billion—nearly half the national GDP.
These economic frustrations have long simmered beneath the surface, creating fertile ground for broader instability, deception and unrest.
Blatant Corruption Scandals in Nepal: Ignored and Denied by the Government
These are just recent scandals that shows exactly what kind of level of accountability people in a high up position have. Nepal's political landscape has been marred by numerous high-profile corruption cases that were glaringly evident—backed by evidence like forged documents, seized assets, and whistleblower testimonies—yet systematically downplayed, denied, or obstructed by government officials and political elites. These instances often involved top leaders who used their influence to shield themselves, leading to public outrage and perceptions of gaslighting through official silence, selective prosecutions, or outright dismissals. Below are key examples drawn from recent scandals, particularly those fueling the 2025 protests.
1. Bhutanese Refugee Scam (2023)
This elaborate fraud saw Nepali citizens falsely certified as Bhutanese refugees to secure U.S. resettlement, with racketeers—including former ministers, senior bureaucrats, and even spouses of high-ranking politicians—extorting over $2 million in bribes from more than 13,000 victims. The scheme exploited Nepal's historical Bhutanese refugee crisis, forging documents and leveraging government seals for credibility. Evidence included victim complaints, seized records, and police raids, making the corruption undeniable.
The government's response was marked by initial silence and closed-door party meetings, with senior leaders avoiding public accountability. Prosecutors charged 33 individuals with fraud and treason, but public distrust grew as elites allegedly influenced investigations to evade full scrutiny—exemplifying gaslighting through inaction and claims that the issue was "isolated" despite its scale. Outcomes remain pending, with fears of light sentences for the powerful, further eroding trust.
2. Lalita Niwas Land Grab Scam (Ongoing, Peaking 2024-2025)
Prime government land at Lalita Niwas in Kathmandu—worth billions and housing the Prime Minister's official residence—was illegally transferred to private hands through forged tenancy records and manipulated sales, implicating over 290 people, including former ministers, secretaries, and political families. The scam's obviousness stemmed from blatant forgeries (e.g., fake tenants) and court-documented manipulations dating back to 2002, with land valued at Rs 800 billion grabbed under elite noses.
Politicians like former Prime Ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Baburam Bhattarai faced Supreme Court show-cause orders in 2025, yet many were acquitted by a special court in 2024, convicting only civil servants while granting immunity to the powerful—a classic case of selective justice. Cabinet members gaslighted by denying any discussions on the land, despite evidence, and the government touted "successful retrieval" in 2024 as a win, ignoring deeper complicity. Appeals by the anti-corruption body (CIAA) continue, but the pattern of elite protection persists.
3. Gold Smuggling Scandal (2023-2025)
Nepal emerged as a transnational gold smuggling hub, with a notorious 61-kg haul in 2023 (valued at millions) linked to Maoist leaders, customs officials, and possibly the Prime Minister himself. Smugglers used political connections to bypass borders, with evidence from seizures, arrests, and inquiry reports exposing a network involving forged manifests and insider protection. Later busts, like a 2025 arrest of suspect Amala Rokka, highlighted ongoing operations.
The government obstructed probes by forming delayed inquiry commissions and facing parliamentary deadlocks from implicated parties like the UML. Opposition leaders accused top figures of cover-ups, met with denials and pledges of "logical conclusions" that never materialized—gaslighting the public by framing it as "external threats" rather than internal rot. A 2024 commission report was submitted, but no major convictions followed, reinforcing impunity.
These cases illustrate a systemic pattern where obvious graft—tied to Nepal's elite "nepo-baby" culture—is met with deflection, fuelling the Gen Z-led uprisings. They underscore why protests erupted over unaddressed grievances, as economic losses from such corruption exceed billions annually stolen from hard working people.
A “Social Media Ban” That Was Just a convenient Match
Popple said Enough is enough, the corruption is out in the open space and nobody can do a thing. The immediate trigger was a government decree on September 4, 2025, suspending 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. Young Nepalis viewed it not as mere regulation, but as an authoritarian clampdown—a deliberate isolation from global connectivity and free expression. It ignited widespread outrage, serving as the flashpoint in an already volatile tinderbox of grievances.
Yet this crisis runs far deeper than a digital shutdown. Nepal has been boiling with systemic issues for years:
Chronic corruption in public institutions, eroding trust and diverting funds meant for development.
Nepotism and elite privileges, particularly among political families, where "nepobabies" flaunt lavish lifestyles amid widespread poverty.
Youth unemployment rates hovering around 19%, coupled with a pervasive sense that opportunities are rigged for the connected few.
Weak accountability mechanisms, rendering public oversight largely symbolic and ineffective.
When policies and rhetoric diverge so sharply from everyday realities—such as soaring living costs, job scarcity, and unfulfilled democratic promises—the pressure inevitably mounts. A seemingly minor move, like the platform ban, then becomes the ultimate provocation, unleashing pent-up fury that has claimed at least 72 lives and forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's resignation amid army deployments and widespread vandalism.
Walking Through the Ashes: What I Saw and Heard
Burned Buildings & Broken Symbols Singha Durbar (the seat of many government offices) was among those damaged. (Wikipedia) The Supreme Court building, the President’s residence (Shital Niwas), and the parliament complex (ICC / BICC) all bore scars. (Wikipedia)
But the shock wasn’t just in public institutions. A Hilton hotel—luxury, symbol of modernity—was also engulfed in flames. Why? That it was literally next door to police or government complexes made its burning all the more jarring. (Wikipedia) Some locals claimed it was targeted because it had ties to political elites. (Reddit)
Streets of Abandonment Cars burned, storefronts shattered. Smoke still lingered low, as if the city was exhaling trauma. I saw people stepping over cracked concrete, pausing before charred facades, as if the city’s memory had turned foreign.
Quiet in the Ruins Amid the visible chaos, a deeper silence: residents avoiding each other’s eyes, conversations dropped to whispers, few sirens now. The usual Kathmandu bustle was suspended.
The Human Toll: Well-Being, PTSD & Collective Shock
This violence doesn’t just break walls. It cracks psyches. Officially reported 72 dead and more than 2000 people injured.
Trauma & hypervigilance: People now scan windows, check shadows, flinch at sirens
Loss of safe spaces: Public buildings used to symbolize security. With them burned, trust fractures
Grief and anger: Families lost members; many are still unaccounted for
Social trust eroded: Neighbors speak less, suspicion creeps, community rituals pause
Mental health crisis: When destruction becomes the norm, we carry bricks in our minds
For a spiritually curious overachiever like you or me, the lesson is: transformation must start in the body. When systems collapse; people carry the debris in their bones.
More questions than answers: Dark side of the conflict
Why Did Hilton Burn? Its proximity to official camps suggests two interlocking motives: first, as a symbol of elite excess; second, as a protest against those in power being shielded while ordinary people suffer. Some reports suggest it was owned or connected to politicians, which made it a target of rage. (Reddit) Even General police camp of Kathmandu that is located almost at the same street in the walking distance couldn’t help prevent it.
Who Pays the Price? Hotel staff, low-level employees, vendors—all collateral damage. The poor rarely burn their own houses. The elite’s symbols are the ones set ablaze.
Were Security Forces Responsible? Yes. Forensics confirmed that live ammunition was used, not just tear gas or rubber bullets. (Reuters) Some victims were shot in the head or chest, not from crowd control tactics. (Reuters)
A three-member panel has been formed to investigate deaths, property destruction, and potential abuses. (Reuters)
Is This a Turning Point?The Prime Minister resigned. A new interim government under Sushila Karki (Nepal’s first female PM) has promised reforms. (AP News) But whether that becomes change, or just another reshuffle, remains uncertain.
What We Can Learn—and What You Can Do
Lessons in Power & Vision
Systems rot from inside. When elites protect themselves while neglecting citizens, legitimacy erodes.
Revolt is as much emotional as it is political. People need to feel heard.
Destruction is a signal—anguish screaming. It demands attention, but doesn’t heal.
For You, Watching From the Edge
Lean into empathy: imagine not just what was lost materially, but psychologically
Reflect where you’ve normalized small corruption or silence
Practice embodied repair: after witnessing or hearing violence, ground yourself—walk, breathe, sit with discomfort
Use your voice, wisely: ask, write, share stories that humanize, not vilify
Personal Conclusion — Conflict That Light up or Consumes
Walking Kathmandu’s charred streets, I kept thinking: this is not only about broken buildings. It’s about broken covenant—the promise between the state and its people. When that breaks, conflict is sometimes the only language left.
But fire can also purify, if we don’t become smoke ourselves. Can we turn the ashes into soil?
Call to Action
If you read this, I invite you: lean into the stories that are painful. Share one. Ask a question (below). Don’t look away. Because healing starts when silence is broken.
What surprised you most about the Kathmandu uprising—what image or question is still burning in you? Drop a comment. Let’s carry this conversation forward.
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