Nepali student had warned government months back; fiery old speech goes viral amid protests

A powerful speech delivered by a Nepali student earlier this year has resurfaced and gone viral, becoming a rallying cry for thousands of young protesters across Nepal.

The resurgence comes amid a sweeping wave of anti-corruption demonstrations led largely by Gen Z activists.

The speech, originally recorded at an event in March, shows the student passionately addressing a crowd: “Today, I stand here with a dream of building a new Nepal, with a fire of hope and passion burning within me. But my heart is heavy, because this dream seems to be slipping away."

Adding: “I stand before you to shed light within your consciousness, to pierce the dark clouds hanging over us. I am here today to immortalise a monumental shift in our history.”

The student speaks of a nation betrayed by its leaders: “Nepal, our mother, the country that gave us birth and nurtured us, only asked for our honesty, hard work, and contributions. Yet we are trapped in unemployment and in the selfish games of political parties.”

He calls on young people to rise against corruption: “Corruption has woven a web that is extinguishing the light of our futures. Youths, rise! We are the torchbearers of change. If we do not raise our voices, who will? We are the fire that will burn away the darkness, the storm that will sweep away injustice and bring prosperity.”

The viral video ends with an emotional appeal: “Our ancestors shed blood to give us this nation. We cannot sell it. We cannot lose it. We must choose — will we drown in the darkness of despair, or rise as the sun of hope? Nepal is ours, and its future is in our hands.”

The speech gained attention as protests erupted across Nepal, beginning on September 8 in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Butwal, Birgunj, and other major cities.

The immediate trigger was government’s move to ban several major social media platforms, citing cybersecurity and tax concerns, which was quickly reversed.

Reports confirm that at least 19 people have died and over 500 have been injured in clashes with security forces. Protesters set fire to both government buildings and private residences of politicians, forcing several leaders to flee under public pressure.

Nepal’s Prime Minister and President both resigned. Authorities have imposed curfews in several cities, including Kathmandu, in an attempt to restore order.