Social media is rife with discussions on the Nepal Revolution and how it was not led by intellectuals and elders but by Gen Z – the group of youth born between 1997 and 2012. Gen Z is the first generation to have largely grown up using the internet, modern technology and social media is their mode of communication. During the Covid-induced lockdown Gen Z were the first to be exposed to online classes and because of which even those who didn’t own a mobile phone had to get one. Perhaps society never realised the potential of Gen Z to shake things up across the cultural, social, and economic landscapes. Since they have grown up in a period marked by rapid technological advancements, significant societal changes, and ever-increasing global connectivity they also think differently; connect more easily across boundaries and have a lexicon of their own which they use to communicate with their group and which to adults is all Greek. Gen Z are aged 28 years and below and many of them are holding jobs, but they are bold enough to want to change the rules of the workplace when such rules are overbearing. Gen Z is disdainful of the generation of Baby Boomers and the millennials. They believe these two generations were too silent and hence could not bring change where needed.
It’s natural therefore that the Nepal revolt would reverberate elsewhere, also because these days the world is cyber-connected. Posts by some youths of Nagaland say that they too should follow the footsteps of their peers in Nepal and set straight what has gone wrong in governance and politics for decades. This would resonate in the North Eastern states which are known for the corruption beginning with elections where money changes hands and it costs several crores of rupees just to fight a state legislative assembly election. How that money is recovered is not lost on those who track the politics and governance in these states. The money is recovered from development funds which would be channelled into the coffers of politicians through their business nexus.
It’s but natural that there would be anger and restlessness among the youth who see no hope from the present set of people running governments and they therefore want change. The key characteristics of Gen Z backed by the latest data and insights is that they’re pragmatic about work but also prone to anxiety and unlike the generation before then they are big on saving and investing, are keen to travel and explore the world and are concerned about the environment but not committed to doing anything to change the status quo. They define diversity, equity, and inclusion differently and communicate essentially through social media and love podcasting. They also rely big time on Artificial Intelligence. The tragedy is that adults have not learnt to listen to their anxieties and aspirations caught as they are in their own web of existential crises. Perhaps the resistance movement of Nepal will change the attitudes of older adults ruling the roost to be more mindful of what Gen Z wants before a similar mutiny breaks out elsewhere too.
