Travel YouTuber Films Nepal’s Revolution for the World
▼ Summary
– Harry Jackson arrived in Kathmandu on September 8 unaware of ongoing protests and a curfew, during which authorities shot and killed nearly two dozen people.
– Mass demonstrations in Nepal, driven by youth anger over political corruption and social media bans, led to parliament being stormed and set on fire, ousting the prime minister.
– Jackson documented the protests on his social media channels, providing global visibility of the youth-led movement and capturing scenes of chaos and mutual aid among demonstrators.
– The protests erupted after the government banned 26 social media platforms, with police using tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition on young crowds starting September 8.
– Jackson’s video of the events went viral, amassing millions of views quickly and over 30 million on YouTube, as he filmed crowds moving toward parliament and people fleeing gunshots.
Travel YouTuber Harry Jackson unexpectedly found himself at the heart of Nepal’s historic political uprising, capturing dramatic footage that brought a youth-led revolution to a global audience. Arriving in Kathmandu on his small motorcycle, Jackson was unaware that the city had erupted into mass protests and was under curfew. That very day, violent clashes broke out as authorities reportedly shot and killed nearly two dozen demonstrators, thrusting the British vlogger into the center of a rapidly unfolding crisis.
Jackson, who documents his long-distance motorcycle travels under the channel @wehatethecold, suddenly became a primary source of on-the-ground reporting. Within a single day, the swelling crowds achieved what many thought was impossible. They confronted heavily armed law enforcement, stormed the parliamentary complex, set the building ablaze, and ultimately forced the prime minister from power. His social media feeds transformed from a travel diary into a real-time news wire, broadcasting these pivotal moments to the world.
The underlying anger had been building for months, fueled by deep-seated political corruption and the perceived flaunting of wealth by politicians’ families on social media. This public resentment reached a boiling point when the government moved to ban 26 social media platforms on September 4. In response, massive demonstrations erupted on September 8. Police met the largely young protesters with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition. It was into this volatile environment that Jackson rode, his camera rolling as he navigated marches and recorded the chilling sound of gunfire.
His presence in Nepal was itself unplanned. After a previous visit in June, Jackson had returned due to shifting geopolitical circumstances elsewhere on his route. His original intention was a brief, straightforward stop in Kathmandu to arrange shipping for his Honda CT125 motorcycle before continuing his journey from Thailand to the UK. He had attempted to cross from India into Pakistan, but finding the border closed, he diverted north to Nepal.
After checking into a hotel and learning about the escalating situation, he decided to accompany some locals to witness the protests the following day. Despite warnings that it was unsafe for tourists, Jackson felt the risk was worth taking, a perspective hardened by weeks of navigating perilous roads on his bike. On September 9, he spent several hours immersed in the demonstrations. By mid-afternoon, he rushed back to his hotel, driven by an urgent need to edit and publish the footage he had captured.
He later recounted the impulse, stating that the material simply had to be shared online immediately. Reviewing the clips, he was struck by the sheer insanity of the events he had witnessed, recognizing the historic significance of a parliament building being set ablaze.
Jackson’s footage from that day provides a raw, first-person view of the revolution. It shows him moving with crowds through narrow streets as they converged on the parliamentary grounds. The scenes alternate between chaos, with hundreds of people fleeing gunfire, and remarkable displays of solidarity, including strangers distributing water and aiding those affected by tear gas. The 28-year-old vlogger is seen weaving through the protesters, inquiring about the latest developments and following the surge of people toward the seat of power. The video resonated instantly, amassing millions of views within hours and eventually surpassing 30 million views on YouTube alone.
(Source: Wired)
