In a stunning political upheaval, a 36-year-old former DJ and his once-obscure non-profit have emerged as the unlikely architects of Nepal’s new interim government, harnessing the power of social media and a messaging app popular with gamers to mobilize a generation and force the prime minister to resign.
Sudan Gurung, founder of Hami Nepal (We are Nepal), used Discord and Instagram to organize massive demonstrations that culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. The protests, which turned deadly within hours, marked the deadliest political crisis in the Himalayan nation in decades.
What began as a decentralized movement—largely driven by young adults in their 20s loosely categorized as “Gen Z”—quickly evolved into a structured force for change. Gurung and his team used virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass government bans on social media platforms, issuing calls to action that reached tens of thousands.
“I was invited to join a group on Discord where there were about 400 members. It asked us to join the protest march a few kilometres from the parliament,” said Karan Kulung Rai, an 18-year-old student who participated in the demonstrations.
Hami Nepal’s early posts on Discord gained such traction that they were referenced on national television. As protests grew and turned violent, the group also took on the role of fact-checker, identifying what it termed “fake news” and sharing vital information such as hospital phone numbers.
The group’s leadership includes cafe owner Ojaswi Raj Thapa, 24, and law graduate Rehan Raj Dangal. Together, they helped steer the movement from online activism to real-world impact.
Thapa, who quickly became a vocal leader, emphasized in an interview that judicial independence is a key priority. “We may need some changes to the constitution but we don’t want to dissolve the constitution,” he said.
In a high-stakes political maneuver, Gurung and his team successfully lobbied for the appointment of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki—known for her tough stance on corruption—as Nepal’s first female interim prime minister. “I will make sure that the power lies with the people and bring every corrupt politician to justice,” Gurung declared in his first press conference.
Despite their central role, members of Hami Nepal insist they have no political ambitions. “We don’t want to be politicians. Sudan Gurung was only helping the ‘Gen Z’ group. We are only the voice of the nation and not interested in taking leadership positions,” said Ronesh Pradhan, a 26-year-old volunteer.
The group continues to influence the formation of the new cabinet, advocating for the removal of officials appointed by the previous administration and pushing for a government that includes “skilled and capable youth.”
As meetings between Karki and Hami Nepal members continue behind closed doors, a nation watches—waiting to see how a revolution born in a digital chat room will reshape its future.
