How Discord became Nepal’s unexpected political powerhouse: The DJ-turned-activist behind digital uprising

Kathmandu: A former DJ and his little-known Nepalese non-profit have upended the country’s political order, all by harnessing the power of Discord, a social media platform originally popular with gamers.

Sudan Gurung, the 36-year-old founder of Hami Nepal ("We Are Nepal"), used Discord and Instagram to mobilise thousands of young protesters across Nepal, in what became the most significant civil uprising the Himalayan nation has seen in decades. The digital campaign culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and has propelled Gurung and his group to the centre of Nepal's interim political leadership.

Discord and Instagram: The digital backbone of protest

Discord, a platform more commonly associated with gaming communities, became the unlikely hub for organising demonstrations. Protesters coordinated via chat groups, shared real-time updates, and issued calls to action — often using VPNs to bypass government-imposed bans on certain platforms.

“I was invited to join a group on Discord where there were about 400 members,” said Karan Kulung Rai, an 18-year-old student who participated in the protests told Reuters. “It asked us to join the protest march a few kilometres from the parliament.”

The group's Discord posts became so widely circulated that they were even referenced on national TV. As protests escalated, Hami Nepal also used its network to debunk misinformation and share emergency services information, including hospital contact numbers.

Who is Sudan Gurung?

Sudan Gurung was once known for spinning records. Today, he’s helping shape Nepal’s political future.

The founder of Hami Nepal first gained attention for coordinating grassroots relief during Nepal’s devastating 2015 earthquake and again during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, he’s leading political reform from the digital trenches.

Speaking at his first press conference after the protests, Gurung declared:

“I will make sure that the power lies with the people and bring every corrupt politician to justice.”

Multiple Hami Nepal members, speaking anonymously due to security concerns, confirmed the group is now actively involved in selecting Nepal’s interim leadership. Among their first major moves: convincing the President and Army Chief to appoint former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the country’s first woman Prime Minister in an interim capacity.

Faces behind the movement

While Gurung leads the charge, others like 24-year-old café owner Ojaswi Raj Thapa and law graduate Rehan Raj Dangal have also emerged as central figures.

With over 160,000 Instagram followers and thousands more active on Discord, Hami Nepal has reshaped how political mobilisation works in Nepal. What began as a digital protest has evolved into direct influence over governance.