A former DJ and his little-known nonprofit in Nepal have unexpectedly become central players in shaping the country’s interim government, after using social media to spark massive youth-led protests. Sudan Gurung, 36, founder of Hami Nepal (“We are Nepal”), mobilized tens of thousands through Discord and Instagram to stage demonstrations that forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to step down. The movement marked Nepal’s deadliest political upheaval in decades, according to participants.

Activists bypassed social media bans with VPNs, coordinating rallies and issuing urgent calls to action. “I was invited to a Discord group with around 400 members asking us to march near parliament,” said 18-year-old student Karan Kulung Rai, who joined but was not part of the core group. Hami Nepal’s online activity quickly became so influential that national TV began citing their Discord posts. As violence escalated, the group also fought disinformation and circulated hospital contacts.

Now, Gurung and his team have assumed a behind-the-scenes role in key political decisions, including persuading the president and army chief to appoint former Chief Justice Sushila Karki—renowned for her anti-corruption stance—as Nepal’s first female prime minister in an interim capacity. “Power must rest with the people, and every corrupt politician will face justice,” Gurung declared at his first press conference.

On Sunday, the group was still negotiating cabinet positions and urging the removal of officials tied to the previous government. “The process is deliberate, to ensure competent young leadership,” they wrote on Instagram. The movement—largely driven by young adults in their 20s—erupted after the government banned several social media platforms, a move later reversed. Protests turned deadly, leaving at least 72 dead and more than 1,300 injured in clashes with authorities.

Although Gurung is older than most of the Gen Z activists, he insists neither he nor his group wants government posts. “We don’t want to be politicians. We only amplify the people’s voice,” said volunteer Ronesh Pradhan, 26. Gurung, once a DJ, gained recognition for relief work during the 2015 earthquake that killed over 9,000 people and later during the Covid-19 crisis. His current team includes 24-year-old café owner Ojaswi Raj Thapa and law graduate Rehan Raj Dangal, who help run Hami Nepal’s Instagram and Discord accounts, now boasting more than 160,000 followers.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.