Harry Jackson’s arrival in Kathmandu on September 8 was unexpected. Entering the city as a tourist, he found himself amidst intense protests led by Nepal’s Gen Z, triggered by widespread corruption and police brutality. Little did he know that within days, these demonstrations would dramatically escalate, resulting in the overthrow of the prime minister and unprecedented violence.
On that fateful day, riots erupted after authorities shot and killed nearly two dozen people protesting against government actions. Jackson, a travel vlogger on a motorcycle journey from Thailand to the UK, was documenting his travels under the handle @wehatethecold. He became a crucial source of information, capturing the chaos as protesters stormed parliament and set the building ablaze.
Earlier, frustrations had bubbled beneath the surface due to rampant corruption among politicians, exacerbated when the government banned 26 social media platforms just days before the protests. Upon his arrival, Jackson decided to join the demonstrations, undeterred by warnings of the dangers. He recorded harrowing footage of the events, displaying both the fervor of the protests and spontaneous acts of kindness among demonstrators.
Jackson’s videos went viral, amassing millions of views, and he vividly expressed the significance of these events in his recordings. Over a grim couple of days, over 70 people lost their lives, and more than 21,000 were injured. The protests quickly led to governmental changes: Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned, and an interim prime minister was appointed.
Although Jackson insisted he wasn’t a journalist, merely a traveler documenting the protests, he acknowledged his unique position as a foreigner who could navigate the chaos up close when many local journalists seemed hesitant to do so. His insights hinted at a deeper understanding of the protests, driven by long-standing grievances against the ruling class rather than the immediate social media restrictions.
In the aftermath, his sudden celebrity status in Nepal allowed him to connect with locals and share narratives of life returning to normalcy amid the upheaval. As his journey continued, Jackson hoped to showcase the richness of Nepal beyond the recent turmoil, capturing the resilience and positivity of its people.
As Nepal’s new government vowed to investigate the violent events of September, Jackson remained committed to documenting the country’s journey through and beyond this pivotal moment, reflecting on how a spontaneous trip turned into a significant historical narrative.
