Nepal stands at a crossroads. The recent Gen Z-led protests have swept away the old corrupt guards—those bloodsuckers and parasites who looted the nation for decades. Their fall was necessary. Yet, the protests, while powerful, have not been without consequence. Public property was damaged, buildings burned, and streets marred with vandalism. These are scars that cannot be undone. But they also mark a profound truth: the old cannot simply be repaired. Nepal’s task is not rebuilding—it is creating something entirely new.

The question now is: how will we rise from the ashes? Will governance in the new Nepal truly be inclusive, or will the same mentality persist, merely wearing a different face from a different party? Will Gen Z, the movement’s driving force, ensure that Dalits, people with disabilities, gender and sexual minorities, and other historically marginalized communities are genuinely included? Will the new interim government be appointed through genuine consensus, or will it replicate old power structures under the guise of change? And crucially, how can we ensure that the head of this government will not succumb to autocratic tendencies?

These are not theoretical questions—they are the measure of whether the fire that swept through the streets of Kathmandu can ignite a new flame of hope, justice, and inclusion. Yes, public property lies in ruins. But the impermanence of material things is not new. As the Buddha taught, all phenomena are transient—everything rises, everything falls, and nothing remains the same forever. Every civilization, every system of power, every culture in human history has collapsed, whether through human actions or natural forces. And from that collapse, something new has always been born.

Nepal is now in such a moment of transformation. The challenge before us is immense. Gen Z must lead not only with courage but with responsibility. The rebuilding of Nepal is not merely an economic task. It is a moral, social, and cultural project. It is a chance to craft a society where justice is not a slogan, but a lived reality; where inclusion is not an afterthought, but the foundation; and where diversity is not tolerated, but celebrated.

This is the moment to imagine a Nepal that serves the public good, not the private interests of politicians’ families. It is a moment to new-build not just structures, but values—compassion, fairness, integrity, and accountability. If we dare to dream, and if Gen Z dares to lead with inclusivity and vision, Nepal can rise from these ashes, stronger, wiser, and more just than ever before.

The old has fallen. Now, let us build anew.