Student uprising in Nepal

The uncertainty in #Nepal is extremely disturbing. The government must ensure that the hurt feelings of youth is addressed and resolved otherwise it will lead to a greater instability which will only be used by the forces which are undemocratic, theocratic and controlled freaks. Social media issues need to be handled carefully as they are also tool to spread anarchy.

It is being reported that the Gen Z in Nepal was upset with the total ban on various social media platforms but that is one side of the story. Basically, the government’s order started when the Nepal’s public was growing in resentment against corruption in the entire governance system. Nepal has never been colonised and hence it can not blame any external forces for the corruption in the system. Unfortunately, we never speak about the internal corruption or internal colonisation which is basically the hegemonic rule of the Brahmanical castes in our part of the world. Nepal followed the Varna system in its governance dutifully under the Monarchy.

Nepal started to democratic note very positively and issue of caste discrimination became an important factor of the political discourse. Initially, political parties spoke of proportional representation but it seems much water has flown into Bagmati river now and political parties and the caste elites are afraid of it. So this elite want to control the system the same way as it is India and other parts of South Asia, which is First Past the Post System where social contradictions are sharpened and used for the political benefit of the ruling elite. So, there is not much enthusiasm among the ‘opinion makers’ about these issues of #Dalits and #Janjatis. Popular protests happen some time to side track these issues as happened in Bangladesh also which has no space for the Dalits and Adivasis there. It became a dominant Islamic narrative there where other forces are merely secondary. Opinion leaders might say things differently but the fact is everywhere in South Asia the socially dominant forces are setting the narrative and controlling politics whatever the system might be.

Now, Nepal’s political leadership was always uncomfortable with responding to rising corruption in the system. The resentment was growing. Media and social media in Nepal are actually much better than other parts of South Asia. I would say, media in Nepal is much more liberal and on the side of people unlike India where it has turned to become the mouth piece of the ruling party. Political parties and government use social media for their propaganda material but get nastier once they realise that it is being used against them.

The protest in Kathmandu and the mismanagement in handling it are the case point. The killings of over 18 young lives only show how our policing system is highly inefficient to handle protests. It is assumed that policing means suppression by any means. Frankly speaking, these are political protests and need to be resolved through political process but a big gap appears when those in power are obsessed with self and their privileges. It gives rise to popular protests. The photographs and videos on social media and various digital platforms tells the story of police inefficiency and brutality.

Also important for the youth too that social media is a double aged sword and big corporations are using it to pursue their own agenda. These protests are good but most of the time they only bring anarchy much for the benefits of big powerful Nations using them. The new colonial method of regime change is basically through creating lawlessness, spread rumours through social media. All this succeed because ruling parties rarely engage with students and common people.

Nepal’s democracy is at a nascent stage. The risk of such leaderless and unorganized protests, is the possible infiltration by other forces who may not be democratic at all as they only get legitimacy through abject failure of the state. The people of Nepal must remain vigilant in protecting their democracy. Speak with government and political parties.

We hope our friends in Kathmandu are safe. The ban on social media is ill timed and dangerous. Government of Nepal must withdraw it. There are other issues too which mostly attempt to tame civil society. This trend is everywhere to convert civil society and media into a propaganda arm of the government and ruling party. Nepal’s media has been proactive and effective on this front and must resist any attempt to control it.

We hope peace will prevail and government and political parties will speak with people and protesting students. Important for political parties to start speaking to the youth and take their issues into account. Social media has become an integral part of our life and dangerously defining us. The reasons are many but also a complete withdrawal by the state from welfare measures. Lack of quality education, no job security and magnifying money making by social media engagements have created a huge crisis. Today, youths are not in street because they are not getting government jobs but why their social media handles are being shut. It only reflect the dirty and dark reality of how social media and popular media has changed the issues, created a vacuum in our minds and build up a narrative of unaccountability from the government. It is a dangerous situation which can only be exploited by those not interested in the stability in the country. Therefore, Nepal’s political parties, civil society, academics, lawyers, activists have to join hand and think of future. Stop this violence and bring peace. It is the duty of the government to take the initiative and act otherwise any escalation of these protest in places outside Kathmandu would be extremely detrimental for Nepal and only provide legitimacy to right-wing dictatorial forces not interested in strengthening the democracy but controlling it completely.

We all should also learn to understand responsible usage of social media. It can strengthen the process of democratisation of the governance but also create anarchy if not used with accountability and responsibility. Remember, the issues of common people in our part of the world is inability off the government structure to provide justice and services. A responsible social media can help raise the issue of human rights violation of the people. Obviously, political parties are uncomfortable with that part and are using the social media for their own propaganda. The crisis is starting from here when governments are unable to control people. Rise of the consciousness of the common person is despised by the political social elite in our part because they are obsessed with their own messianic image with people glorifying and begging for help. Social media that way has empowered but a responsible government would use criticism in social media to improve its services but unfortunately leaders today are extremely arrogant of their power and not keen to look and behave like the common people. The result of this arrogance is the big communication gap which gives rise to such uprising which mostly end up in anarchy and chaos.

We hope good sense will prevail and Nepal government and political parties will join hand to bring the country back to normalcy. Start conversing and speaking with people. Students should also avoid taking extreme steps. An impartial investigation must be ordered into these firing incidents so that trust and confidence is built among the common masses and peace is restored.