Kathmandu, Sept 10 – Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who resigned from his post on September 10 amid nationwide protests, has issued an emotional open letter addressed to Nepal’s youth, particularly Generation Z. The letter, circulated through a reliable source though not from his personal account, was written from Shivapuri under the protection of the Nepal Army.
Full English Translation of the Letter
“Dear Gen Z sons and daughters,
Today, sitting inside a secluded security perimeter in Shivapuri, surrounded by the soldiers of the Nepal Army, I am remembering you. Your faces dance vividly in my mind. Wherever I go, whenever I see small children, they immediately run into my arms. Their innocent laughter, the warmth of their little bodies, fills me with extraordinary joy. Being among children has always given me excitement and fulfillment.
Perhaps you don’t know: during the harsh struggles for regime change, because of the brutal tortures inflicted by the then state, I was unable to have children of my own. Yet the desire to become a father never died within me. When I heard that police bullets had taken the lives of my sons and daughters, many things in my life ended that very day. The wounds of that pain are still fresh. Even so, I have always believed that peace must prevail in society. You may recall, during my tenure as Home Minister in 1994 (2051 BS), not a single bullet was fired by the state under my watch. I always stood for peace, because I have personally endured the cruelty of violence.
The second day of the movement, despite how destructive it became, I firmly believe that such acts did not come from your tender hands. By showing your innocent faces, attempts are being made to manipulate your emotions for dirty politics. Setting fire to vital record offices, releasing prisoners from jails—these incidents are not coincidental. Deep conspiracies lie behind them. This system, which we brought forth through countless sufferings and sacrifices, is being attacked. Back then, we had no right to speak, no right to gather, no right to question. By struggling against that darkness, we established this bright system. Today, if you can raise your voices and protest, it is the gift of this very system. Now there are efforts to massacre the same system, and you must remain vigilant.
My dear children,
By nature, I am a bit stubborn. If it were not for this stubbornness, I would have surrendered long ago amidst difficulties. It was out of stubbornness that I insisted social media companies comply with Nepal’s rules and register here. It was out of stubbornness that I declared Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura belong to Nepal. It was out of stubbornness that I maintained, as mentioned in scriptures, that Lord Ram was born not in India but in Nepal. Had I backed down from these stands, I could have gained many advantages and opportunities. If I had not sent the revised map of Nepal, including Limpiyadhura, to the United Nations, or if I had allowed others to direct me, my life would have taken another turn. But I gave everything I had to the state. For me, position and prestige have never mattered.
Whether I remain in office or not has never been significant to me. What matters most is protecting this system—the very system that has given you the right to speak, to walk, to question. Preserving it is the ultimate purpose of my life. On matters of the system, there can be no compromise.
Yours,
KP Sharma Oli, Shivapuri
Key Takeaways from the Letter
- Personal Pain & Connection to Youth: Oli highlights his childlessness due to past political torture, framing Nepal’s younger generation as his symbolic sons and daughters. He recalls being personally affected by police violence.
- Defense of the Political System: He stresses that Nepal’s democratic system, born from long struggles, is under attack, and urges Gen Z to protect it rather than destroy it.
- Claims of Conspiracy: Oli suggests that the large-scale arson, release of prisoners, and destruction of record offices cannot be spontaneous acts, but part of deeper conspiracies.
- Stubborn Legacy: He underscores his uncompromising positions—on Nepal’s territorial claims (Lipulekh, Kalapani, Limpiyadhura), the revised map sent to the UN, and his controversial stance on Lord Ram’s birthplace—as proof that he values sovereignty over political gain.
- Resignation as Sacrifice: He implies that resigning is not about losing power but about ensuring the survival of the system he fought for.
Analysis
The letter comes at a highly volatile time for Nepal, following two days of intense protests led by Generation Z on September 8 and 9. With government institutions—including Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court, and multiple ministries—damaged by arson, Oli’s appeal seeks to redirect Gen Z’s energy away from destruction and toward safeguarding democracy.
By evoking both personal suffering and patriotic “stubbornness,” Oli frames himself as a defender of national integrity rather than a fallen leader. His tone is both paternal and cautionary: acknowledging Gen Z’s frustrations, while warning them not to become pawns in hidden political games.
