South Asia has been hit hard by protests; Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Pakistan are specific cases. Most of these states share common causes that result in periodic collapse of the working of these state systems: weak institutions, feudal state apparatus, little or no civil society, elitism, economic problems, and foreign interference. The modern nation-state project has never faced such stress in this region. Sitting at the head of the strategically important Indian Ocean, the region is witnessing a new wave of public anger and new challenges for policymakers. Nepal is the latest case. Kathmandu’s Ratna Park is again mirroring Nepal’s politics, echoing cries of “No jobs, no future – no faith; Democracy, not dictatorship!” The place is again in the throes of civilian unrest, with much of its young population taking to the streets. Violence breeds more anger and uncertainty. What shapes the protests across South Asia is not just instant disillusion with the ruling elite but a deep structural malaise now exploding. In Nepal, public outrage is surfacing again; most protesters were likely born after the royal flag was lowered, showing how democracy’s failure can lead impatient youth to lose faith in a system that has failed to deliver. The rage is old, shaped by the turbulent journey of the republic, a decade-long Maoist insurgency, the fall of the crown, and the steady erosion of democratic ideals.

The People’s War against the Royal Monarchy was launched by a small Maoist group in 1996, which they saw as a battle against the feudal and exclusionary system run by the monarchy. It started in some pockets of the kingdom but spread quickly, reaching many social and ethnic groups. The promise of land reforms, equality, and justice resonated with these marginalized groups. For a decade, the kingdom bled, with 17,000 killed and pitched battles between rebels and the Royal Army. A full-blown armed insurgency broke out. It was not just an insurgency; a century-old structure was challenged and dismantled. Although the promises did not materialize and the call for jan rajya fell flat, by 2005 the kingdom was........

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