The day before the Gen Z protest was supposed to take place, Nepal’s beloved band Nepathya shared a clip of them performing the hit song, ‘Gaun Gaun Bata Utha’. The next morning, when the hopeful youth gathered at Maitighar Mandala, the same song was being played through a loudspeaker. This created an energy that was seen and felt, as the youth marched forward demanding change.

However, this is not the first time this song has been used in a movement. Written and composed by Shyam Tamot during the Panchayat era, it was widely used in democratic movements and carried an anti-establishment image for nearly three decades (1960–1990). It is also popularly known as the ‘Sankalpa song’. The Nepathya version of this track is as popular as the original.

‘Gaun Gaun Bata Utha’ wasn’t just limited to the streets. People actively used the song on social media platforms to voice their decades of discontent. As the song aptly puts it, “Sath ma kei na hune haru, awaj liyera utha,” (Those who have nothing, rise with your voice)—that is exactly what Gen Z did. They used their only weapon—their voices—to topple an incompetent Government and make their stand.

“Songs like these touched an invisible side and brought youths together,” says 24-year-old Youbesh Dhaubhadel. “It gave people hope, aspiration, and also power.” The other similar patriotic songs circulating on social media right now are ‘Nepal Haseko’ by Balen and ‘Baneko Cha Paharale’ by Gopal Yonjan.

Not only that, Nepali Gen Zs also adopted a symbol from a similar movement that began in Indonesia in July—a pirate flag. The cartoonish skull on a black banner called ‘The Jolly Rager’ is from the hit manga series ‘One Piece’. In the anime, this flag symbolises resistance against unjust rulers, advocating for freedom, and upholding one’s values.

“The flag is a voice against oppression,” says Anup Karki, a Gen Z youth who participated in the protest on September 8. “Jolly Roger raises voices against the already empowered who exploit their authority,” he adds.

In the universe of ‘One Piece’, the phrase “the Will of D will bring a new storm” refers to the idea that people carrying the initial “D” are destined to create major upheavals or spark transformative events—much like a storm. “Drawing a parallel with our own reality, one could say that ‘the will of youth will bring a new storm,’ suggesting that young people’s collective energy and determination can challenge the status quo and drive powerful change,” says Karki.

The flag’s influence has spread beyond Asia. In France, during protests that began on September 10 against President Emmanuel Macron and the political elite, and proposed spending cuts, demonstrators wearing straw hats were seen carrying hand-drawn versions of the flag along with other symbols from the series.

Many see the flag as a remix of popular and political cultures. This suggests that symbols from entertainment can gain new significance when adopted in political movements.

Barring Gen Z, the manga’s worldwide fame may surprise some, but ‘One Piece’ has been the best-selling series since its debut in 1997, with over 500 million copies sold globally.

In addition to the flag, demonstrators took to the streets with creative placards. Several references from movies and TV series were used to raise voices uniquely. One protestor was seen holding a humorous banner that read, “You dirty dogs! Tell me! Where’s my garib Nepali’s khoon pasine ka money? Batao mujhe batao!!”. This, of course, is adapted from a famous dialogue delivered by Katrina Kaif in the movie ‘Tees Maar Khan’. This scene has resurfaced on social media following the protests that began on Monday.

In a similar vein, another protestor was seen holding the iconic ‘face’ made by Steve Carell’s character Michael Scott, from the hit TV series ‘The Office’. The placard read, “Politicians, when you ask where all the taxpayer money went.”

These symbols don’t just capture attention and give young people a voice; they show that pop culture can inspire, unite, and empower a generation demanding change.