A teenager who went viral earlier this year for a fiery school speech has now become the face of Nepal’s largest youth-led protest in decades. Avishkar Raut, 17, first caught public attention in March with a bold address on corruption, delivered in a style compared by many to Adolf Hitler’s infamous speeches. His emphatic cry of “Jai Nepal” echoed across social media at the time. Few imagined that six months later, he would be leading demonstrations powerful enough to topple Nepal’s government.
From Viral Speech to Street Leader
Raut’s school function speech was shared widely online in March, praised by young Nepalese for its raw honesty about corruption and inequality. It became a rallying point for disillusioned students frustrated with political stagnation.
On Tuesday, fresh footage circulated online showing Raut standing atop a vehicle in Kathmandu, microphone in hand, chanting slogans against corruption. Behind him stood rows of students, many waving Nepal’s national flag.
The protests, spearheaded by Gen Z, have since shaken Nepal’s political structure. Several days of clashes with security forces left multiple people dead and dozens injured. The unrest culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and several senior leaders.
Oli Steps Down, Cabinet to Remain
On September 9, Nepalese President Ram Chandra Poudel accepted Oli’s resignation, acknowledging the country is in a “difficult situation.”
“The cabinet will continue to run the government until a new Council of Ministers is formed,” the president said in a televised address. He urged citizens to maintain peace and support democratic processes.
Under Article 77 (3) of Nepal’s Constitution, the current cabinet will function in a caretaker capacity until a new prime minister is appointed.
Who Could Be Nepal’s Next Prime Minister?
As Oli’s government collapses, one name is rapidly gaining traction among protesters: Balen Shah.
- Shah, a rapper-turned-politician, is currently the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
- Known for his anti-establishment lyrics, one of his songs famously declared: “All those who protect the country are fools. All leaders are thieves, looting the country and eating it up.”
- On Tuesday, Shah took to Facebook, appealing for calm: “Since the Prime Minister has already stepped down, protesters must avoid further loss of life and property.”
Many young Nepalese see Shah as a symbolic alternative to traditional political elites. Whether he emerges as an actual candidate for prime minister, however, remains uncertain.
Why This Movement Matters
The Gen Z protest marks a generational shift in Nepal’s politics. Unlike previous movements dominated by older activists, this uprising has been defined by digital mobilization, viral videos, and student-led speeches.
- Grassroots leadership: Figures like Avishkar Raut illustrate how ordinary students are stepping into roles once occupied by seasoned politicians.
- Digital amplification: Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) have fueled rapid coordination and global visibility.
- Structural impact: The resignation of a sitting prime minister shows the protest’s immediate political power.
What remains unclear is whether the movement can transform viral energy into long-term political reform.
What’s Next for Nepal?
Nepal faces a period of uncertainty as its leaders scramble to stabilize the government. President Poudel’s caretaker cabinet is only a temporary solution, and negotiations are underway for a new coalition.
Meanwhile, the streets of Kathmandu remain charged. Protest leaders, including Raut, have yet to outline concrete political demands beyond anti-corruption reforms.
For now, the movement has already rewritten Nepal’s political script: a teenage student’s school speech has grown into a revolution that forced the nation’s most powerful man to resign.
TL;DR
A 17-year-old schoolboy, Avishkar Raut, who went viral for an anti-corruption speech in March, is now leading Nepal’s Gen Z protest in Kathmandu. The movement has forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign, with President Ram Chandra Poudel installing a caretaker cabinet. Rapper-turned-mayor Balen Shah has emerged as Gen Z’s pick for Nepal’s next leader, though no new government has yet been formed.