Curfew off, Nepal wakes up to 'new day, new peace'

KATHMANDU: Nepal felt different Saturday morning. Curfew was completely lifted and all restrictions on movement were off for the first time after Gen Z protests brought the nation to a grinding halt.

"It's like a new morning," Kumar Khaling, 21, merrily sauntering on a side path at Kathmandu's Durbar Square said.It would have been the same in Pokhara, Chitwan and Ramechhap as the country began its slow march towards peace and normal life.In Kathmandu, citizens, first cautiously in the early hours and then more freely by afternoon, came out on the roads, stopping by still-smouldering buildings that had been torched a few days ago in the violence that eventually brought down the KP Sharma Oli govt.

One of them lingered around an office in the Singha Durbar area, taking out his camera-phone to take a photo. But he changed his mind and walked past.And though formerly unbreachable buildings like Nepal's Parliament and Supreme Court lay defeated and defaced, many passersby stopped in front to gaze at the remains of the structures, as if mulling what it would take to bring them back to life.Groups of men and women milled around Pashupatinath temple, one of the country's most revered, seeking strength and clarity.

"God will guide us," a boy barely out of his teens grinned, a red tika on his forehead. "New day, New Nepal," he declared to no one in particular. Ganesh Khadka, 32, who works as a taxi driver, said, “You know, people were fed up with corruption by those in power. And when Gen Z people started trending ‘Nepo Kids’, with photos of children of politicians enjoying lavish lifestyles during foreign trips, something broke. Hurt turned into rage.

See what's happened now."Another resident, Pasang Sherpa, 27, who works as a receptionist in a Kathmandu resort, explained: "The world saw what we achieved. We threw out Oli and his supporters in just two days. Politicians in Nepal will in future think twice before taking our people for a ride."Earlier in the day, newly appointed prime minister Sushila Karki met injured Gen Z protesters undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the city and wished them speedy recovery.

"Your sacrifice will help pave the way for a better Nepal," she said. She also dropped by police station buildings that were razed in the city to assess damage. But the euphoria was tinged both with hope and sorrow. "We also suffered much," Pemba Sherpa, 28, said. "So many lives lost. To be honest, I have mixed emotions. Our biggest festival, Dashain, is a fortnight away, but it won’t be joyous for grieving families. How can we celebrate when they are drowning in sorrow."By late evening, the Kathmandu administration had also announced resumption of classes in schools from Monday. It asked teachers to come a day ahead, on Sunday, and prepare a report on the damages.“Those unable to attend classes in person will be offered virtual lessons until the situation fully normalizes,” a statement issued by it said.