Nepal’s Protests and the Return of the King: Why Gen Z is Calling for Monarchy Again

■ Summary: What’s really happening in Nepal?

In 2025, a wave of large-scale protests erupted across Nepal — not just against social media restrictions, but against something far deeper: a widespread distrust of political institutions, chronic corruption, and generational despair.
In a surprising turn, many young protestors began to invoke the name of former King Gyanendra Shah, chanting for the return of monarchy — not necessarily out of royalist ideology, but as a symbol of stability, structure, and lost hope.

This article unpacks the movement by examining:

• What actually happened on the ground
• What ordinary citizens and young protestors are saying
• What experts and international media are warning
• Why the monarchy — once abolished — is being nostalgically revived

■ What sparked the protests — and why are they escalating?

• In early 2025, the Nepali government proposed new restrictions on social media, sparking widespread outcry among youth.
• The protests quickly escalated from digital freedom to corruption, nepotism, lack of job opportunities, and a broken political system.
• The tipping point came when former King Gyanendra Shah returned to Kathmandu, greeted by thousands shouting:
  “Raja aau, Desh bachau” (“Come back King, save the nation”).

While monarchy was officially abolished in 2008, the return of this slogan — once shouted in royalist rallies — signaled a shift in public sentiment from democratic fatigue to symbolic nostalgia.

■ What really happened on the ground?

📍 According to Reuters and local media:

• On March 29, pro-monarchy rallies turned violent:
  2 were killed, 112 injured, including 77 police officers.
• Over 100 people were detained, including rally organizers.
• Protestors waved flags, held portraits of the king, and demanded a “Hindu Kingdom” and the return of royal rule.

📍 Following public pressure and chaos, Nepal’s Prime Minister resigned in early September — a direct result of the Gen Z-led protest wave.

■ The voice of protestors: “This is our revolution”

From local interviews and international reports, the emotion on the streets is vivid and raw:

“It’s not just about TikTok. We have no jobs. We see politicians promoting their cousins. We are done watching.”
— A 22-year-old protestor, Kathmandu

“This is our revolution. It’s our turn now.”
— Saurav, 18, in The Guardian

Protestors are not simply calling for Gyanendra’s return as an absolute ruler. Instead, he has become a vessel for their disillusionment — a symbol of what they feel democracy has failed to deliver.

Some say:

“The king was no angel, but at least there was order.”

■ Expert warnings: Is monarchy really the answer?

The International Crisis Group and constitutional scholars have voiced serious concerns:

• Reintroducing the monarchy — even symbolically — could threaten democratic structures that took decades to build.
• It may create the illusion of change while consolidating power in dangerous ways.

Key media perspectives include:

• Reuters: “What comes after the Prime Minister’s resignation remains unclear.”
• The Guardian: “Protestors are organized online, but lack centralized leadership or long-term policy goals.”
• Yahoo (Crisis Group cited): “Nepal risks falling into institutional regression without structural reform.”

■ Analysis: Why Gen Z is calling for a king — 3 emotional drivers

1. Nostalgia for Order

“Things were more peaceful under the king.”
Even if inaccurate, the perception of past stability is powerful during present chaos.

2. Desperation from Dysfunction

“Voting changes nothing.”
The belief that democracy has failed creates radical openness to alternatives.

3. Symbolic Rebellion

“The king vs. corrupt politicians”
The monarchy has become a proxy symbol — not a policy proposal, but an emotional counter-narrative.

■ What are Nepal’s options now?

The crisis in Nepal is not just about a protest or a Prime Minister’s resignation. It represents a fundamental rupture between the people and their institutions. In this vacuum of trust, the country now faces three broad paths:

1. Reinstating a symbolic monarchy

Some royalist groups and parties (like RPP) propose reinstating Gyanendra as a ceremonial head of state, similar to constitutional monarchies like the UK or Japan.

🌀 Risks:

• Once the monarchy returns, public pressure could push it toward actual power.
• It could legitimize authoritarianism under the guise of tradition.
• The 2005 royal coup by Gyanendra is still fresh in historical memory.

2. Reforming the current system

Many activists argue that real change must come from within democracy, through:

• New leadership (including young politicians and activists)
• Constitutional reforms to increase transparency and accountability
• Decentralized governance, giving more power to local bodies

🌀 Challenges:

• Institutional inertia is strong.
• Older political elites may resist meaningful change.
• Reforms take time — and protestors want immediate results.

3. Civic autonomy and grassroots movements

Some Gen Z organizers now prioritize:

• Local community organization
• Volunteer mutual aid networks
• Educational reforms and digital rights

Rather than “waiting for government,” they’re building micro-alternatives now.

🌀 Opportunity:

• Could lead to a bottom-up transformation of Nepal’s governance culture.
• Encourages long-term civic engagement.

■ Signs of hope amid chaos

Despite the volatility, there are glimmers of possibility:

• The resignation of a Prime Minister due to nonviolent, youth-led protest is unprecedented.
• International media and organizations are watching closely — possibly deterring harsh crackdowns.
• A growing awareness among youth that change is possible, not just through violence, but through strategy and solidarity.

📌 A quote from an activist summarizes it well:

“We don’t want to go back. We want to move forward — but we need to believe in something again.”

■ Final Reflection: Is Gyanendra a king — or a symptom?

Former King Gyanendra is not returning as a monarch anytime soon. But his name now represents something much bigger:

• A sense of lost stability
• A rejection of political hypocrisy
• A placeholder for people’s broken expectations

In truth, the movement isn’t about Gyanendra himself — it’s about what people feel they’ve lost, and what they fear they’ll never gain under the current system.

Until Nepal finds a way to rebuild institutional trust, the ghosts of the monarchy will continue to haunt the democratic project.

🔖 References

• Economic Times – Who is Gyanendra Shah?
• Reuters – Nepal After Gen Z Protests
• Wikipedia – Gyanendra of Nepal
• Economic Times – Citizen Experience
• The Guardian – Protest Voices