Need For Youth Leadership

Since September, the important discourses and dialogues in Nepal have revolved around the Gen Z uprising and its repercussions. Nearly three months into the unprecedented revolt, the whole nation is still in shock, with everyone trying to make sense of what exactly transpired on a couple of fateful days. However, it’s imperative to shed light on the cause of the revolt rather than magnifying the effects. At the heart of the discourses are the Gen Z groups and the political class. 

In the aftermath of the historical revolt, both parties are required to stand on the common ground of working for the nation’s welfare. A semblance of normalcy can be sensed at the current time, and this has been possible only due to understanding on both sides. This is a positive sign amidst the chaos and unrest. The notion that the youths are indifferent to politics was shattered, thanks to the empowered Gen Z group that not only announced its political awakening but also cautioned the upcoming generations to raise their voices.

Every groundbreaking revolution requires ample presence of a youth group, because they are loyal and committed to the collective agenda of the public. This is the reason why political parties and leaders try to lure the youth group. The term ‘youth mobilisation’ is widely used in the political sphere. Whenever the election dates approach, parties and leaders scour for influential youths who can assist and lead the electoral campaigns for them. Many youths are of the opinion that they are only demanded in such times, while their pleas go unnoticed at other times. 

Perhaps, after the September uprising, this scenario can change. The spontaneous revolt highlighted the fact that the youth, or the Gen Z group, clearly lacks strong leadership. Certain groups have even deemed the Gen Z group “anarchists.” The generation that is capable of speaking out against wrongdoing shouldn’t buckle under pressure due to threats and allegations. How many dialogues and discourses were held by the Gen Z group before the uprising? 

Surely, there were no such programmes at all, and the groups were yet to converge before the uprising. Democracy allows every party, every group, and every religion to march in the streets and protest. The smart generation — that is, the Gen Z group — shouldn’t rely on violent protests to make their voices heard. The power lies in solidarity, and it can be achieved by forming unions across all provinces.

What the group must not adopt is the populist approach of gaining popularity and support by speaking out against the political class. If the generation doesn’t respect the political parties and the senior leaders, it will be perceived as an insult to democracy and the ancestors’ contributions in establishing it. The media houses can also play a crucial role by acting as a mediator between the parties and the youth groups. Instead of always inviting the well-known politicians, the media houses can invite the youth speakers to participate in the dialogue. By doing this, the voices that were unheard can reach every stakeholder. On the Gen Z side, they aren’t allowed to hold grudges against the established political parties, as they can learn a lot from them. What this generation must understand is that only through a smooth transition of leadership will they learn the tricks involved with politics.