GenZ leader Sudan Gurung of Hami Nepal paid respects to the country's interim prime minister, Sushila Karki, by touching her feet after the September 12 swearing-in ceremony. The gesture showed Gurung's reverence for Ms Karki and the rising influence of youth in Nepalese politics.
Ms Karki, a former Chief Justice of Nepal, became the first female Prime Minister of the country following the resignation of KP Sharma Oli after days of protests against corruption, authoritarianism, and government mismanagement.
She is tasked with overseeing fresh elections to the lower house of parliament by March 11, 2026, according to Reuters. She is also expected to appoint other ministers in the coming days.
Gen-Z leaders showed their support for Ms Karki through an informal public vote conducted on Discord. On the messaging platform, she was selected as their preferred candidate.
Ms Karki, though part of the establishment the youth were protesting, is seen as a fearless and incorruptible jurist, making her the popular choice among the younger generation. Born in Morang district, eastern Nepal, she became the country's first female chief justice in 2016. She gained recognition for her zero-tolerance approach to corruption, according to CNN.
India welcomed the formation of Nepal's interim government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Ms Karki in a post on X.
Who Is Sudan Gurung?
Many young leaders attended MS Karki's swearing-in ceremony, including Sudan Gurung, who has been instrumental in the recent political developments.
Gurung is the president of Hami Nepal, a youth-driven NGO that has mobilised people across the country. He played a huge role in the mass protests that led to the resignation of KP Oli, opposing what young activists described as a corrupt, authoritarian and failed government.
Hami Nepal, to mobilise youth and coordinate peaceful demonstrations across Nepal, shared videos titled “how to protest,” instructing students to attend rallies in uniform, carrying books and bags, to symbolise the voice of the youth, according to reports.
Before his shift to activism, Gurung worked as an event manager. His transformation began after the 2015 Nepal earthquake, when he lost his child. Motivated by the lack of an effective emergency response, he founded Hami Nepal 2020, which now has more than 1,600 members.
Over the years, Gurung has coordinated international funding and secured donations for communities affected by floods, landslides and earthquakes.
