New Delhi: The agitation in Nepal last week had three dimensions – the total collapse of the state machinery, multiple forces joining the Gen Z agitators and unprecedented destruction of public and private property, says Mahendra P. Lama, senior professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and an astute observer of Nepal for several decades. Lama was in Kathmandu during the agitation and also spoke to several local citizens.

“There was a huge gap between Gen Z and the government,” he said in a podcast conversation with Sidharth Bhatia,” but there was a pattern to the violence-it was well sequenced, with arson, looting, mayhem, killing.”

He expressed surprise that the army was not summoned on the first day and the political parties remained quiet.

Over the past 10 years, there have been 14 prime ministers, some lasting barely three months and none of them had done anything for the country or its citizens, said Lama. He said Nepalis were not violent people but the “Maoists had inculcated a culture of violence in the country.” He embossed that over this period, “India had nothing to bring stability to Nepal or help build institutions,” he said, adding, “India needs to change its strategy in Nepal.”

This article went live on September fourteenth, two thousand twenty five, at eighteen minutes past twelve at noon.

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