A mandate in any democratic country is not only a political win, but a covenant that the citizens entrust to the individual who wins the election. It shows the trust, hopes, and national ambitions of citizens that feel their voices are heard. In Nepal now, the concept of people mandate is more urgent. It is no longer simply a question of making a government, but rather the answering of the all-purpose, impatient voice of a new generation which insists upon a reply. Generation Z, as the current generation is commonly known in the world, has been brought up in a world that has been dominated by high rates of technological development as well as awareness of social media and the ability to connect with people all over the world. Young people in Nepal are not an exception. They are enlightened, made aware and very conscious of the way governance is conducted elsewhere in the world. They contrast, interrogate and critically assess the development of their countries. They are more hesitant to take empty promises and symbolic gestures unlike their previous generations. They expect openness, responsibility and visible performance.
Nepal is a country that has been experiencing increasing youth activism and dissatisfaction among the populations in the past few years. There is nothing gratuitous about the frustration. Even decades later, after the political change, most of the core problems are still not resolved including unemployment, corruption, political instability, poor infrastructure and the resulting loss of talented young people to foreign countries in search of opportunities. The raging question reverberating in social sites, streets, and classrooms is straightforward yet concise: How do we continue to live, fed on sweet dreams rather than real development? This impatience is manifested in the so-called Gen Z movement in Nepal. It is not just protest, it is re-inventing leadership and governance. Youths are no longer content with leaders who live by previous revolution attributes. They are posing the question, what are the real contributions made today. Their question is why the development projects are taking long, why corruption scandals reoccur, and why political leaders tend to focus on power politics rather than national development.
This generation cherishes performance in favour of favour. They want to be innovative, entrepreneurial and digital in nature. What they desire is policies that will generate employment opportunities in Nepal such that they do not have to migrate but choose to do so. They have a vision of a Nepal that has been modernized in agriculture, promoted tourism in a sustainable manner, expanded industries and education that meets the global standards. In brief, they desire a country that is abreast with the time. The will of the people as expressed in elections should therefore not be taken as a blank check to the political comfort. It is a call to action. This is to remind that sovereignty ends up with the people. The discrepancies between rhetoric and reality increase when leaders promise attractive things over and over again during campaigns, and they do not fulfill their promises. In due course, this disparity develops into anger, cynicism, and mistrust.
Enough is enough is a slogan that is catching up with the young people. This is a phrase that is not only heart-felt but also political. It is an indication of a paradigm shift whereby citizens are prepared to hold their representatives to account. The social media has increased this voice making leaders hard to ignore when people criticize them. One controversial move can now be discussed throughout the country in hours. The age of passive marital obedience is dying.
Nevertheless, it is not just a duty of political leaders. An active citizenship is also required in a meaningful mandate. The youths should not just talk back, but also engage in productive activities, which include policy debates, civic education, venturing, and even joining politics. Pressure and integrity both are necessary in sustainable change. Nepal is at a very important crossroad. There is on the one hand the cycle of instability, corruption and unfulfilled promises. Contrary to this is the reform that can be brought about by visionary leadership and the involvement of youth in reform. The distinction between these two courses relies more on the degree in which the mandate of the people is taken seriously.
Development is not something abstract. It implies good roads, good healthcare, good government services, technology, equitable job opportunities and an administration without corruption. It involves providing a place where young minds would dream and accomplish in their country. When all these fundamental expectations remain unattended, people will only get frustrated. As the history knows, suppressed aspirations of a generation cannot be disregarded, so a transformative change is bound to take place. It is not about miracles that the youth of Nepal are demanding but about honesty, ability and responsibility. They pose the question whether the national leadership is ready to step out of speeches and begin to provide quantifiable improvements.
A mandate is a reflector of the people in the end. When leaders consider it as an instrument of self-interest, they end up losing popular confidence. However, when they take it as a duty to serve, then they can bring about a new wave of prosperity. The present generation has taken the lead: it is time to develop, and no longer to excuse. The future of Nepal is determined by the fact whether this call will be heard or not. It is over with the handing out of sweet dreams. The moment to take action has come. Compiled by Arjun Jung Rayamajhi
