Protest Turns Deadly
University student Aditya Rawal, 22, joined hundreds of young protesters outside Nepal’s parliament earlier this month. They were demanding an end to corruption and a fair government. Suddenly, gunfire broke out.
“I thought if I raised my hands, they would not shoot,” Rawal said from his hospital bed in Kathmandu. “But I was their target.”
He was hit by bullets in his leg, arm, and stomach. Fourteen people around him fell to the ground. At least 72 protesters were killed that day.
Gen Z Leads the Movement
The protests started after the government banned social media. Anger quickly spread, fueled by unemployment and poor governance.
One in five Nepalis aged 15–24 are jobless, according to World Bank data. For many, this fight was about their future.
“This was not just for me,” Rawal said. “It was for everyone. The pain is temporary, but the change will last.”
Government Resigns
The unrest forced the prime minister to quit. Protesters set parliament and key government offices on fire. The army eventually restored order.
On Friday, former chief justice Sushila Karki, 73, was sworn in as interim prime minister. She will guide Nepal to fresh elections within six months.
Sacrifice and Pride
Nineteen-year-old Subash Dhakal was also shot. He may spend months in bed, but he remains proud. “I have no regrets at all,” he said.
His mother, a teacher, supported him. “Our sons threw out all the corrupt leaders,” she said.
At Kathmandu’s Civil Service Hospital, where more than 450 injured protesters were treated, nurses worked through tear gas and blood. Their efforts highlighted the heavy price of change.
A Call for Transparency
For Nepal’s youth, the message is clear: they want a transparent and corruption-free government.
As Rawal’s cousin Puja said, “His actions were for our nation. It gives me courage.”
