Embrace Change

We are a part of a wider community, and the society that we are inhabiting has given us numerous things, ranging from a unique identity, distinguished culture, a sense of belonging, and togetherness. Since time immemorial, people have been setting different rules and regulations, and according to the requirements of time, some policies have been revised while others have been overhauled for the coexistence of communities from different backgrounds. 

Irrespective of the economic standing of countries, the world has long been witnessing nations going through unprecedented changes in economic, political, and socio-cultural contexts. Driven primarily by the necessity of bringing in new changes in the country, a group widely known as Gen Z, after being deeply displeased with the poor performance of the political elite, has been triumphant in toppling what seemed like an underperforming government in Nepal. People in Nepal had been conjecturing such a transformation in power through word of mouth. 

However, the scale, intensity, and magnitude took everyone by surprise. On September 8, the streets of Kathmandu surprisingly saw an increase in the number of people as the day had previously been slated for a Kathmandu-centric protest against the recent decision of the then-government to ban social media sites for failing to register their office. As September 8 rolled around and the day dragged on, social media and news outlets started showing deeply perturbing images of innocent students being helpless, running recklessly with their endearing friends in their arms, and the deployed security force spraying bullets, sending a chilling message to the loved ones of the deceased, and plunging the nation into turmoil. 

Nearly two dozen innocent youths were killed on the first day, which in turn became a perfect recipe for the second day's catastrophe. If the first day of protest was bad, the following day was worse, as it saw untoward activities ranging from looting, arson, and vandalism of public and private properties. Looters, vandals, and arsonists were rampant on September 9, causing devastation by torching the private residences of politicians and looting public buildings.

 Gen Zers hadn't thought of causing catastrophic damage to the country, as it was meant to be a peaceful protest, but as people have speculated, there was an involvement of infiltrators in the act of creating devastation. In addition to being involved in turning a peaceful protest into a distressing one, the infiltrators created a favourable environment for prisoners, convicts, and detainees to break out of prison by looting firearms, ammunition, and police uniforms. 

It was a fish in troubled water, as the opportunists saw the movement as a chance to render the country lawless to carry out uncivic activities. As history suggests, change is inevitable, and the current generation of people is tech-savvy, highly informed, and shows a high degree of unwillingness to the outdated system. So, if they sense an urgency of change, they can go to any length to make it happen, as seen initially in Sri Lanka, followed by Bangladesh, and now eventually in Nepal. 

More than ever before, political leaders are expected to be informative, knowledgeable, and responsible towards the country, as the world is becoming highly competitive, and countries are needed to make sweeping changes in this regard to make their presence felt. By strictly implementing the changes, overseeing the performance of the current caretaking government, and holding morally lagging, malfeasant politicians accountable, the sacrificed lives can be honoured and the country can be brought back to normalcy.