Nepalese workers in Sikkim stay connected amidst Gen-Z protests
The group, taking a rare break from their physically demanding jobs, shares updates and videos circulating online.
LOCAL
In India's Sikkim, a group of Nepalese porters and workers find themselves glued to their mobile phones, their faces a mix of concern and curiosity. These hardworking individuals, who toil daily as porters, laborers and in various other roles hail from Nepal, a nation currently gripped by the ongoing Gen-Z protests.
As their homeland faces unrest, these workers are using their phones to stay updated on the dramatic developments that is taking place back home.The image captures a touching moment: seven men sitting on a weathered staircase beside a green corrugated wall, each engrossed in their screens.
The protests, which erupted on September 8 in Kathmandu and other cities, were sparked by a government-imposed ban on major social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and X. The ban, aimed at curbing unregistered platforms ignited widespread anger among Nepal's youth, leading to violent clashes with security forces.
Reports indicate that at least 19 people have lost their lives, with hundreds injured, as protesters demand an end to corruption and the restoration of their digital rights.For these porters, many of whom support families back in Nepal, the news hits close to home.
The group, taking a rare break from their physically demanding jobs, shares updates and videos circulating online.The protests, dubbed the "Gen-Z protests," have seen thousands of young Nepalis march against the social media blackout and systemic corruption, drawing inspiration from similar movements in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The unrest escalated when demonstrators stormed the Parliament building, prompting a curfew and a heavy-handed response from security forces. Despite the ban being lifted following the violence, tensions remain high, with the government launching a probe into the incidents.
Living and working in Sikkim, these Nepalese workers bridge two nations, their lives intertwined with the economic and cultural ties between India and Nepal. As they scroll through their phones, they see how strong their generation is back home. For now, their focus remains split between their labor in Sikkim and the hope for stability in Nepal, a hope they carry with every update they receive.