I grew up with vivid memories of Nepal, the crowded streets, the resilience of ordinary people and my family’s constant hope for a brighter future. This past week, however, those memories have been pierced by grief.
In just 24 hours on September 8, Nepal’s Gen Z protesters “toppled” a prime minister, triggered an unprecedented army intervention and changed the course of their country’s history. What began that Monday morning with thousands of young Nepalis peacefully demanding an end to decades of corruption, including embezzlement of public funds, misuse of taxpayer money, political nepotism, and failures to provide basic infrastructure, healthcare, and education, ended in chaos and tragedy.
By the afternoon, mobs on motorbikes stormed through Kathmandu, and crowds broke past barricades into Parliament. Police responded with tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and even live rounds. The result was devastating: the death toll has now risen to 34, with more than 1,300 injured. Many of those killed were young people in school uniforms, having believed the rumor that wearing their school dress would protect them from police violence. Instead, those uniforms became haunting symbols of innocence lost.
The unrest engulfed symbols of power. Several parliament buildings were set on fire, and homes of politicians suspected of corruption were burned by furious crowds. These flames were not only physical destruction but also a cry of frustration from a generation that had seen its future stolen.
Many major international news outlets have misframed this as merely a social media ban protest, emphasizing the government’s sudden decision to block TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube. In reality, the protests are about far more: they are a response to decades of corruption, impunity, and government negligence. On TikTok, outrage grew when the children of politicians, widely called Nepo babies, flaunted their lavish lifestyles. Young Nepalis asked, “If the monthly salary of a politician is only a fraction of what these luxuries cost, where does the money come from?” The answer was clear, corruption, siphoning funds from ordinary citizens. The contradictions could not be starker. Nepal remains one of the poorest countries in the world, yet Swiss banks holds a significant amount in Nepali linked deposits, the fourth largest among South Asian nations. How could this be, if not the result of decades of looting by the political elite? The ban on social media was simply the last spark. The true cause of this eruption lies in generations of government failure, and this time, Nepal’s youth, tired of silence, risked everything to demand change.
The impact of the protest was immediate. Prime Minister K. P. Oli resigned, and reports suggest several politicians have fled the country or gone into hiding. There is growing discussion of an interim regime, with some calling for leadership under Sushila Karki, the country’s first female chief justice, though nothing is yet confirmed. Many in Gen Z are rallying behind Balendra Shah, the current mayor of Kathmandu, as a leader who could represent their hopes for a new Nepal.
From Cornell, I feel the weight of this moment. As a Nepali American student abroad, I carry both helplessness and responsibility. I check my phone constantly, worried about what may come next for my homeland. At the same time, I know I have a duty to honor the voices that were silenced. Serving as President of the Nepalese Student Association at Cornell, I have witnessed our community rally together in grief and support, finding strength in each other. This tragedy reaches beyond Nepal’s borders; it calls on the Cornell and Ithaca communities to bear witness, show solidarity and take meaningful action.
Ithaca has a vibrant Nepalese community, evident in past celebrations of Dashain, Tihar and the Nepalese New Year, which have welcomed over 160 guests. Tonight’s vigil will provide a platform for the Nepalese community in Ithaca and at Cornell to come together, to mourn in solidarity and to honor the lives of the brave youths who stood against corruption for a better Nepal.
We are not alone in this effort. Together with more than 45 Nepalese Student Associations across the United States, we have launched a verified GoFundMe campaign to support families and communities most affected. Thanks to extraordinary generosity, we have already raised more than $16,000 of our $20,000 goal. Every contribution, no matter the size, provides comfort and hope to those grieving in Nepal.
I invite the Cornell and Ithaca communities to take action: attend the candlelight vigil tonight, Thursday, September 11th, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Stewart Park, or consider contributing to the GoFundMe campaign. By joining us or donating even a small amount, you honor the courage of Nepal’s youth, stand in solidarity with those affected and help ensure their fight for justice is not forgotten.
From Cornell, we may be far from the streets of Kathmandu, but we can still stand in solidarity. By joining the vigil or supporting the families affected, the Cornell and Ithaca communities can honor the bravery of Nepal’s youth and their fight for a better Nepal.
Reshma Niraula '26 is a Biological Sciences student, concentrating in Neurobiology and Behavior. She is currently Science Staff Writer at The Cornell Daily Sun. She also serves as President of the Nepalese Student Association at Cornell, Secretary of the Cornell Surgical Society, and an Executive Member of the College of Arts and Sciences Ambassadors. She can be reached at rn284@cornell.edu
