00:00This is Sushila Karki, Nepal's former chief justice and now emerging as the unexpected
00:07choice of a generation demanding change. But who is she and why does Gen Z want to rally behind her?
00:16Born in Nepal's Biratnagar city, educated at Benares Hindu University in India, Karki began
00:22her legal career in 1979. By 2009, she had risen to the country's Supreme Court. In 2016,
00:29she made history as Nepal's first woman chief justice. Her appointment was symbolic too.
00:34For the first time, Nepal's president, speaker and chief justice were all women. Karki built her
00:39reputation on a fearless stand against corruption. She convicted Jaya Prakash Gupta, the first sitting
00:44minister in Nepal of graft. She also exposed corruption in peacekeeping and supported progressive
00:50rulings like allowing Nepali women to pass citizenship to their children. But challenging the establishment
00:56had consequences. In 2017, lawmakers tried to impeach her, accusing her of judicial activism.
01:02The motion was withdrawn, but it cemented her image as a reformist who stood her ground.
01:06Fast forward to 2025, Gen Z-led protests erupted against corruption, nepotism and a sweeping
01:22social media ban under Prime Minister Oli. After weeks of unrest, Oli resigned. For these young
01:28protesters, Karki's integrity and track record set her apart. While popular figures like Kathmandu,
01:33Mayor Valenshaw were discussed, Gen Z saw Karki was emerging as the leader with the credibility
01:38to guide an interim government.
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