- A former DJ and his little-known nonprofit, Hami Nepal, leveraged Discord and Instagram to orchestrate massive protests that toppled Nepal’s government, positioning them as key players in selecting the country’s interim leadership. Sudan Gurung, 36, founder of Hami Nepal, mobilized thousands of young Nepalese through social media, using VPNs to bypass bans on platforms and spark demonstrations that forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s resignation during the nation’s deadliest political crisis in decades, according to a dozen protest participants. Oli’s representatives were unavailable for comment.
An 18-year-old student, Karan Kulung Rai, not affiliated with Hami Nepal, joined a 400-member Discord group that rallied protesters near parliament. The group’s early Discord posts gained such traction that they were cited on national television. As protests turned violent, Hami Nepal countered “fake news” and shared hospital contacts. Members, using pseudonyms for safety, said Gurung and other leaders are now pivotal in high-stakes decisions, including appointing interim leaders until the March 5 election.
Hami Nepal successfully lobbied Nepal’s president and army chief to appoint former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, known for her anti-corruption stance, as the country’s first female interim prime minister, three members confirmed. At a Thursday press conference, Gurung vowed, “I will ensure power remains with the people and hold every corrupt politician accountable.” On Sunday, Gurung’s team was in talks to finalize key cabinet positions, advocating for the removal of officials tied to the previous regime, group members said. Gurung and Karki did not respond to inquiries. Hami Nepal’s Instagram post emphasized a careful selection process to include “skilled and capable youth.”
From DJ to Revolutionary Leader
The protests, driven by a largely Gen Z movement of young adults in their 20s, erupted over perceived government corruption and a now-reversed social media ban. Clashes with authorities left at least 72 dead and over 1,300 injured. Gurung, older than the Gen Z cohort, and his team have declined cabinet roles but aim to influence future decisions. “We don’t want to be politicians. Sudan Gurung is just the voice of the nation,” said Ronesh Pradhan, a 26-year-old volunteer.
Gurung, a former DJ, founded Hami Nepal and previously organized relief efforts during Nepal’s 2015 earthquake, which killed over 9,000, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside Gurung, key team members include 24-year-old cafe owner Ojaswi Raj Thapa and law graduate Rehan Raj Dangal, managing Hami Nepal’s Instagram, now with over 160,000 followers, and Discord posts. Thapa, a prominent protest leader, told Reuters on Thursday that ensuring judicial independence is a priority for the interim government, adding, “We may need constitutional changes, but we won’t dissolve it.”
