Families of protest victims in Nepal demand change as new leader assumes office
By Sabiu Abdullahi
Families mourning loved ones killed during Nepal’s anti-corruption protests say they want their sacrifices to bring lasting change, as the interim prime minister chosen by demonstrators was sworn in on Saturday.
One of the victims was 30-year-old Santosh Bishwakarma, who was among at least 51 people killed during two days of violent clashes this week.
The unrest has been described as the most serious since Nepal ended its decade-long civil war and abolished the monarchy in 2008.
His widow, Amika, also 30, tearfully remembered his lifelong wish.
She said his “ultimate dream” was to “die having contributed to the nation.”
Santosh lost his life on Monday when security forces opened fire during the first wave of protests organized by the youth-led “Gen Z” movement.
Amika explained that her late husband often insisted he “wouldn’t die like a dog.”
Holding a framed photo of him inside their modest Kathmandu home, she said, “His dream was to make Nepal known to the world — and he did.”
The protests erupted after authorities imposed a temporary social media ban, a move that fueled widespread anger over corruption and economic hardship.
Following the violence, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, 73, stepped down on Tuesday, ending his fourth term after parliament was set ablaze by demonstrators.
On Friday, former chief justice Sushila Karki was sworn in to lead a six-month interim government before elections.
Thousands of young activists had reportedly used the app Discord to deliberate on leadership options and put Karki forward as their preferred candidate.
Amika, now left to care for her 10-year-old son Ujwal and seven-year-old daughter Sonia, expressed her fears for the future.
“My husband would have done everything to fulfil their dreams, even at the cost of his life,” she said. “But how am I supposed to manage everything on my own? He sacrificed his life for the country, and I hope the new government will help me.”
A family friend, Solan Rai, 42, said he believed the demonstrations marked a significant moment for the country. “I hope we finally see real change this time,” he said, noting that the anger was “more intense than anything we’ve seen before.”
Nepal remains one of the poorest nations in Asia, with the World Bank reporting that 82 percent of its workforce is in informal employment.
The country’s GDP per capita is just $1,447.
On Friday, hundreds gathered at Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath temple for mass cremations. Families wept over victims of the clashes, many of them young men.
Among the mourners was Ratna Maharjan, who broke down while grieving for her son. “I hope there is some justice — and our people finally get the change they so desperately seek,” she said.
In one heartbreaking scene, a mother refused to part with her son’s body, wrapped in a shroud, clinging to him on the temple steps.
Not far away, police officers placed garlands of marigolds on the body of a fallen colleague while a bugler played.
Amika summed up her appeal in simple terms: “What we seek isn’t too much to ask — just equality. So the rich don’t thrive while the poor languish.”
