‘Can’t sleep properly’: Nepali students in Delhi anxious as crisis deepens back home

Her words capture the tension and fear felt by many Nepali students across Delhi as the country is plunged into political turmoil.

On September 4, the K P Sharma Oli regime had banned 26 popular social media platforms — Facebook, X, YouTube, among others — for failing to register with the authorities by a certain deadline. The shutdown triggered an explosive response among the youth, especially from ‘Generation Z’ or ‘Gen Z’, who saw the move as censorship and a denial of free expression.

The frustration boiled over on September 8, when large numbers of young people came out on the streets, and 19 were killed after police and security forces opened fire. Protesters then went on a rampage against prominent political figures and buildings. Prime Minister Oli eventually resigned.

A view of the Parliament building, which was set on fire amid the violent protest over alleged corruption, in Kathmandu on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

Across Delhi’s universities, anxious conversations ripple through dorm rooms, university cafes, and WhatsApp threads. Each news bulletin from Kathmandu sends a new wave of panic.

“I was there in Nepal last month, but we did not see such a situation coming so soon,” says the SAU student. “Back then, they banned TikTok for a while but restored it. The frustration among the youth had started building, though.”

She remains anxious, waiting for updates from her sister. “Our studies continue, but I am unable to focus. When every call from Nepal begins with, ‘I heard another shot,’ how can we focus on research?”

For Prashant Rawat, a former Delhi University student now preparing for further studies, there is a bittersweet sense of relief. “My family lives away from Kathmandu, so there is no immediate danger to them,” he says.

“But what is happening in Nepal isn’t just a protest — it’s about the future of a whole generation.”

The SAU student echoes Rawat. “It’s not just the ban, it’s a systemic disorder. There is so much corruption and unemployment, and it has been so normalised that it’s crushing.”

In the meantime, Nepali students have been sharing coping strategies — emergency contacts, mutual check-ins — while waiting for calls from home.

A 24-year-old Master’s student of Political Science at Delhi University says: “My cousin in Kathmandu keeps telling me not to panic, but then I see the videos circulating. I can’t sleep properly, thinking about the situation.”

For a 27-year-old PhD student from DU, who lives in North Campus, watching videos of the violence on social media has been horrifying. “My parents are in Bhaktapur, so they are safer, but I keep thinking: what if it spreads? My friends here are supportive, but I am still scared.”