When Urban Uprising Escalated

A Nation in Turmoil

It is rare for me to write in the first person, but the events that have unfolded in my country demand a more personal reflection. The detachment of third-person analysis often suffices when examining public affairs, yet the raw emotions of grief and confusion cannot be fully captured without personal involvement. This is especially true when reflecting on the recent unrest that has shaken Nepal.

The youth-led protests on September 8 and 9, 2025, plunged the nation into chaos. At least 74 people were confirmed dead, with over 1,800 injured. Over half of nearly 16,000 individuals who escaped from prisons and detention centers remain at large. More than 1,100 weapons, along with significant ammunition, were stolen from police stations. The economic toll was equally devastating, with the private sector suffering losses of 80 billion rupees due to arson and theft following police actions. Commercial establishments and homes of prominent figures were also targeted.

The state has suffered immense damage: heritage sites like Singha Durbar, irreplaceable Supreme Court records, and critical infrastructure were destroyed. Most importantly, the government’s image as a protector of peace and security has been severely tarnished. Law enforcement agencies are now at their lowest morale, publicly ridiculed, stripped of uniforms, and even beaten by those they are meant to serve.

For nearly 36 hours, the state appeared absent, with no firefighting units available to protect key institutions such as legislative and judicial buildings. Four major media outlets were also attacked, further deepening the crisis.

The Constitution and Constitutionalism

I have long held the view that the divisive constitution written with the blood of over 50 Madhesi martyrs in 2015 does not deserve reverence. Being governed under it does not mean accepting its sanctity. I have always politely declined invitations to celebrate this document. However, this year, the realization struck me that it was not just the constitution but the very idea of constitutionalism that was at risk.

I attended the official ceremony on September 20, 2025, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan to witness how the elite viewed the situation. The presidential complex still bore the scars of the fire that had engulfed it. Nepal Army soldiers stood guard, but they failed to protect the office of their supreme commander-in-chief, President Ram Chandra Paudel, as it was set ablaze. The atmosphere at the ceremony resembled a funeral, with participants in formal attire mourning the state of the constitution. President Paudel delivered a somber address, lamenting the moribund condition of the charter while urging unity among political parties, the government, and citizens.

Echoes of the Past

As I stepped out of the ceremony, drizzle fell like tears, echoing the recurring descent into hopelessness that has marked Nepal’s modern history since 1951. The autumn rain brought back memories of the third Madhesh Uprising in 2015, when a single bullet struck Ramshila Mandal of Jaleshwar between her eyes as she sought shelter from the rain. The media in Kathmandu turned a blind eye to the brutal suppression, and civil society remained silent.

Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, once hailed as a protector of national interest, was forced to flee his residence in September 2025, seeking refuge in the Nepal Army barracks. His downfall symbolizes the fragility of power when it is built on ethnonationalist rhetoric rather than effective governance.

Ideological Vacuum and the Risk of Authoritarianism

The urban uprising of September 8-9, 2025, showcased the power of youth anger, but it also revealed its dangers. Revolutions fueled by rage without a clear ideological framework often lead to authoritarian resurgence or societal disillusionment. The Arab Spring serves as a cautionary tale, with Tunisia and Egypt experiencing democratic backsliding after initial uprisings.

In Bangladesh, a year after student protests, elections are still pending. Sri Lanka’s Aragalaya movement, intended as an ongoing struggle, ended with a coalition that made deals with the very forces it opposed. Politics, often driven by who rules rather than what works, risks entrenching the same power structures.

The 9/8-9, 2025, protests lack a unifying ideology, and the resulting movement has already begun to unravel, merging into the existing ABCD (Aryan, Bahun, Chhetri, and Dashnami) ethnonational structure. New additions to the cabinet, dressed in mandatory uniforms, took the oath of office without representation from Madhesh. Retired Justice Anil Kumar Sinha, presented as a Madheshi face, comes from an elite legal family.

Even competent professionals like Sangeeta Mishra of the Health Ministry face humiliation in this new regime. Her resignation and subsequent appointment highlight the challenges faced by those outside the dominant community.

A Long Journey Toward Dignity

From the winter of fear in 2005, the spring of hope in 2006, the monsoon of misery in 2015, to the autumn of despair in 2025, the journey for Madheshis has been long and arduous. Despite the challenges, there remains a glimmer of hope. As we approach Dashain, may the myth of the triumph of good over evil prove true.