KATHMANDU: Today is Jestha 15 (May 29) according to the Nepali calendar. On this day in 2008, the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic. As we celebrate the 19th anniversary of this decisive political transformation, there is a historical perspective that is different from previous years. This is the first Republic Day since the country’s youth, particularly the Gen Z, took to the streets to protest and demand a radical restructuring of the system.

The Gen Z protests did not merely demand a change of government; it questioned the very ‘soul’ of the republic. Is the governing power truly in the hands of the people? Are state institutions accountable? Are the aspirations of the youth incorporated into policy-making? The answers to these questions were on the pages of the Constitution, but not in practice. The movement brought these questions to the streets.

Analyzing Nepal’s Gen Z protest solely as a political event would be superficial. This movement was a collective explosion of frustration accumulated over decades. A government crippled by corruption, the disregard for merit in appointments, the quagmire of party-ocracy, and the compulsion of youth migration had all combined to break the thread of a generation’s patience. Raised in digital networks, this generation proved capable of seeing, recognizing, and instantly resisting injustice.

History is witness—whenever the youth generation takes to the streets, the direction of the nation changes. From the People’s Movement of 1990 to the People’s War, from the restoration of democracy to the declaration of the republic; the blood and sweat of the youth have been mixed into every transformation. The Gen Z protest is the modern chapter of that glorious tradition.

The unfulfilled promise of the republic

When the republic was declared in 2008, the Nepali people harbored dreams of social justice, inclusive development, and good governance. The Constitution guaranteed fundamental rights, federalism, and proportional representation. However, the gap between dream and reality kept widening. Political parties became distorted, institutions turned into hubs for political appointments, and talk of good governance remained confined to speeches in parliament.

The country’s best talents were forced to go abroad. University graduates were pushed toward factories in the Gulf and Malaysia. This very pain fueled the Gen-Z movement. This generation said—we are not just asking the state for relief, we are demanding the fulfillment of the promise made by the republic.

The first Republic Day after the Gen Z protest is not just an occasion to celebrate, it is a time for serious self-evaluation. It is essential for the state, political parties, and civil society to come together and find answers to the aforementioned questions through practical action.

The first day of the Gen Z protest on September 8, 2025. Photo: Bikram Rai

For that, keeping institutions like the judiciary, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), and the National Human Rights Commission free from political influence is the most urgent task of the coming decade. The republic will be sustainable only if institutions are strong.

Ensuring the real representation of the youth generation in the structures of parliament, ministries, and local government is the next responsibility from now on. ‘Youth policy’ does not just mean a policy made for the youth, it also means a policy made by the youth. The Gen Z has already demonstrated the power of digital mediums. Let the government now construct structures for open data, e-governance, and digital accountability, which will make citizens direct participants in the governance process.

The promise made by the republic cannot be fulfilled without stopping the brain drain. The solution for that is—dignified employment within the country, an environment for entrepreneurship, and merit-based opportunities. The success of a republic is not measured by GDP, but by the respect the country’s youth receive on their own soil.

Agreement and responsibility

A republic is not just a form of governance system, but also a living agreement between the state and its citizens. In this agreement, the state has the responsibility to provide justice, security, and opportunity.

Citizens have the responsibility to participate, hold accountable, and not let democracy be limited to a mere ritual. The Gen Z protest has reminded both sides of their responsibilities.

The political leadership must understand this movement not as a threat, but as an opportunity. Rulers who lack the courage to listen when the people speak never find a respectable place in history. This generation is not just rebellious; if the state knows how to make them partners, they are builders too.

Today, as we wave flags, sing the national anthem, and light torches, let us remember those youths who stood on the streets and revived the soul of the republic. Their demand was not—throw away the republic. Their demand was—make the republic truly alive.

The Gen Z protest was not against the republic, it was in favor of the republic. For that reason, this first Republic Day after the movement is deeply meaningful. Therefore, this dawn of Republic Day, the first dawn after the Gen Z protest, is an opportunity for a new promise for all of us.

As citizens, as policy-makers, and as a nation, let us promise—from now on, the republic will not be limited to paper, every citizen will experience it in their life. Because, a republic is not merely the absence of monarchy, it is the active presence of citizens.

(The author was active in the Gen Z movement and is the former head of the campaign department of Nepal Gen Z Front.)