• Source:JND
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Nepal is in the grip of its most serious youth-led protests in recent memory after the government imposed a sweeping ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X. The move, announced on September 4, was justified as an effort at “regulation,” but it quickly ignited anger across the Himalayan nation.

Within days, demonstrations spiraled into violent confrontations, leaving at least 20 dead and more than 300 injured. The unrest has shaken the Oli government to its core, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and multiple cabinet ministers, including Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who stepped down on moral grounds.

Sudan Gurung: From Party Planner To Activist

At the heart of this uprising stands Sudan Gurung, a 36-year-old civic activist and president of Hami Nepal, a youth-led NGO. Once an event organiser, Gurung’s life took a sharp turn after the 2015 earthquake, when he lost his child in the disaster. The tragedy transformed him, pushing him toward disaster relief, civic activism, and youth mobilisation.

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Since then, Gurung has emerged as a prominent figure in Nepal’s civic movements. He was instrumental in the Dharan “Ghopa camp” protests at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, where activists demanded transparency and accountability in hospital operations. Such campaigns established his reputation as a leader capable of converting raw frustration into structured, peaceful action.

A Symbol Of Peaceful Resistance

Gurung’s role in the current protests is both symbolic and strategic. Ahead of the demonstrations, he posted on Instagram urging students to participate in school uniforms and carry books, a quiet but powerful symbol of peaceful resistance. “We sought official permission for rallies,” he said, stressing that his group aimed for lawful, nonviolent demonstrations.

Protesters soon adopted this approach, transforming Kathmandu’s streets into scenes of orderly defiance, even as security forces resorted to tear gas, water cannons, and eventually live fire.

Mobilising Through Digital Tools

Before the government’s digital blackout, Gurung used social media platforms to share protest routes, safety instructions, and guidelines for peaceful participation.

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To many in Nepal’s restless Gen Z, Gurung embodies their frustrations in a digital age where online expression is tied to identity, freedom, and activism.