Nepalese Londoners to hold vigil, reflecting from afar on deadly protests

London's Nepalese community is holding a vigil in Victoria Park on Saturday night for the lives lost during a wave of anti-corruption protests that engulfed the Himalayan nation's capital last week and have since toppled the government.

Anil Dahal, who works as the youth coordinator for the Nepalese Community of London has been closely following the situation as it unfolds, just like many of his fellow community members.

"The diaspora in London, they are always worried about unexpected things going on in Nepal. Most of our family members are there," he said.

Demonstrations began on Monday in the capital Kathmandu and have since been dubbed the "Gen Z protests" due to the age of many of its young participants. They were sparked after the government banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Though the ban was quickly reversed, protesters remained galvanized by what they perceived to be decades-long corruption and nepotism among the country's political elite. As the protest grew, police began responding with deadly force, killing more than 50 and injuring thousands.

It led to the resignation of the country's Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, on Tuesday. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed as interim leader, becoming the first woman to lead Nepal.

Many in London are also eager to see how the new interim government will respond to the situation, Dahal said

Despite the violence, many young Nepalese people are excited about the success of their action and the prospect of change, Jagdish Singh Bist, captain of the Nepalese London Cricket Club, said.

"A few of my friends were in the protest for two days," said Bist, 29. "They had no serious injuries, but they went everywhere from morning to evening, all day, all night."

He was still worried for his friends' safety, he admitted, after hearing of the first protesters killed in clashes with police.

It's the first time Bist has seen his generation make such a united political stand and actively push for change in the country, he said. Though he has lived in London since 2022, he thinks he might have joined the protests if he were still in Nepal, he added.

The protests are a revolution, Bist said—one he feels happy for, while also mourning the protesters who lost their lives. With the appointment of Karki as the nation's new interim leader, he said, he has hope for Nepal.

"She's a lady with a lot of knowledge. She was the Chief Justice. She has great potential and we are hoping she will do great things and form a great government that will lead us to a better future."

The vigil will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in Victoria Park, and Dahal is expecting a large turnout from the community who will be honouring those who have lost their lives and standing in solidarity with the other protesters, he said.