It’s always nearer than we think, the Future ....
It is made out of the present ... and mostly the 'chaos' of the present times.
Being indifferent to these emerging changes will be suicidal.
Nepal's Gen Z protesters targeted "nepo kids"—elite offspring flaunting flashy lifestyles on social media.
Youths have been used and weaponised as "trigger" and a tool to suit some people's agenda.
Needless to add this latest round of turmoil in Nepal has added 'mess' along India's eastern borders.
In 2021 we had Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. In 2024 - Bangladesh and now Nepal. There is little to dispute that the crumbling of the K P Sharma Oli government in Nepal on Sept 9th, Tuesday, has a striking similarity with the protests that and finally to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime in Bangladesh on Aug 5th, 2024.
Prime Minister Oli was not quite India-friendly. But now that he has been "forced to tender his resignation" just after two days of protests ---
A few relevant questions could be asked --- How can an elected Govt fall so soon ?
Is there any system or everything has collapsed ?
There are certain related matters those also ought to be looked into.
South Asia -- they say - with a median age of just over 28 years, the region – comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – is one of the youngest populace in the world.
So we are given to understand that this "youth bulge" can certainly drive the economic growth graph.
But where there is unemployment -- the natives or local residents are bound to see it as economic deprivation.
These may lead towards religious and even socio-political resurgence. In other words you have just a soft stage for motivated political unrest.
These seem to have happened in Bangladesh for all obvious reasons.
People called it 'revolutionary' ways.... But given the geo-political fluid unleashed by the US and also fast emerging friendship with renewed vigour among India, Russia and China - the "motivated political unrest" seems to be gaining currency as initial knee-jerk reactions.
Like in the case of Bangladesh, where there was an anti-quota stir, it was the social media ban in Nepal that was the trigger. But discontent had been brewing for months now. Corruption and nepotism, like in Bangladesh's case, were big issues in Nepal too. Terms like "nepo kids" and "nepo babies" started trending on social media in the run-up to the Nepal protest.
Almost the 'Dhaka formula' was in execution --
The massive protests in Nepal in Kathmandu rapidly spread to smaller towns Pokhra, Biratnagar, and Bharatpur.
The protests, overwhelmingly led by youngsters and students, particularly those from Generation Z (born roughly between 1997 and 2012).
The democracy, comprising about 20.8% of Nepal's 30 million population with 90% internet penetration, mobilised swiftly against the government's ban on 26 social media platforms, and systemic corruption.
Thousands of young protesters, many still in school and college uniforms, flooded the streets under banners like "Youths Against Corruption", organised by the NGO Hami Nepal, led by 36-year-old activist Sudan Gurung.
Nepal's social media ban and Bangladesh's quota protests show how a small policy decision can ignite deep-rooted anger over corruption and inequality.
The social media ban in Nepal served as a seemingly minor trigger that unleashed a torrent of pent-up grievances, leading to a disproportionate outcome. The Oli government collapsed just a day after the chaos.
In 2023 we had so-called ethnic clashes between Kukis and Meiteis in Manipur. The trigger was a quota issue. But was it the only factor ?
Why should we be cautious --- can it happen also in Pakistan anytime ?
In 2023 and also 2o24 Manipur was "caught in the crossfire" of a larger international power play taking place in the region especially with regards to the civil war in Myanmar.
We may argue -- that the common people in Manipur,be Meitie, Kuki, Hmar, Paite, Pangal, Nagas ....heart in heart they need not support the violence at all which was created by certain groups.
That violent cult was possibly funded by certain inimical powers. Thus a strong refrain in Delhi has been it will be be erroneous to diagnose the Manipur violence as mere 'ethnic conflict'.
What we saw in Manipur or even what happened in Dhaka and Kathmandu were somewhat like the 5th Generation warfare.
There are some powers who can build a nation quite easily but given the past experience - they also have the powers to destroy almost all nations of South Asian theatre.
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| When Manipur burnt - 2023 !! |
ends
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