A Heartfelt Homage to Bipin on Bhai Tika: Reflections for Gen Z

Navita Srikant.

Bipin Babu,

You will be 25. And all you had spent in Israel as an aspiring agriculturist was a mere 25 days before your dreams, aspirations, and life were cut short by #Hamas, the terrorist.

Your courage had no parallel. You threw away a live grenade to save lives. It makes me think hard why any of the Nepali youth wanting to fight corruption felt an achievement in burning one’s own country. Bipin Babu, you saved the lives of those around you, but today’s Gen Z, as they are called, have forgotten that ordinary people have lost livelihoods which they used to earn from tourism. Now tourists do not want to come to black buildings. I wonder why Gen Z was not unnerved at the sight of destruction and violence.

For two years, your mother and sister searched for you and knocked on every door of international diplomatic leadership. Nepal has extraordinary relations with Qatar for years, Nepal's UN relations are time-tested. US-Nepal relations are considered the third most important relations after India and China, but for two years, Qatar, the UN, and the US could not secure the freedom of Bipin. It is a wake-up call as to how Nepal’s foreign policy decisions must be weighed, leveraged, and realigned. A Nepali youth is as precious as an American.

Today is Bhai-Tika. You will be missed by many! But you are no longer an ordinary Nepali. You are a courageous hero. I hope that Nepal’s leadership confers upon you a National Award for bravery in public service.

I will personally feel so happy the day it is conferred upon you.

Lastly, I hope Nepali youth remembers you all the time. Today, they are in a mad rush to become national leaders. The social media fame and attention are distracting them from the basics that leadership comes with experience, resilience, and respecting others. They do not have time for family, friends, and mentors. The sudden limelight is a mirage. I hope they remember you all the time and make it a point to call upon their parents daily and update them about their whereabouts and the risks they plan to undertake.

As I saw your last journey through the streets, let me tell you that locals rallied behind you wholeheartedly. Everyone wanted to be a part of the Hero’s journey. This is so unlike those corrupt leaders whose arrogant bike rallies are nothing less than a sign of their downfall.

Sadly, I could not join during the final rites, but I will surely visit your hometown and see the new sapling of a courageous Gorkha.

Baikunthabas Babu

(The writer is a Nepal Observer and a financial, geopolitical, and security analyst.)