Martyr of the Gen-z movement: An old man’s dream, built on sacrifice and education, left unfulfilled

Bajura: Twenty-three-year-old Objan Budha had a thatched house in Sappata, Swamikartik Rural Municipality-1 of the district. His parents, who lost their son to bullet injuries during the Gen-z Movement, now live in the same house, enduring the pain of separation. The family, which once sustained itself through small-scale farming, now faces an uncertain future after losing their son at a young age.

Manipal Budha, Objan’s father, who is generally literate, said, “Before the movement, my son had called and told me that he would return home in two years. My son had a dream of studying law and becoming an advocate, but he never returned. The dream of seeing my son become a lawyer also ended forever.” Objan was his second child.

Objan studied up to grade three at Rupali Basic School in the village. As there was no secondary school there, he went to Kolti in Bajura and studied up to grade eight. During his stay in Kolti, he did not have the financial means even to rent a room, so he continued his studies with the help of a teacher from Mugu district.

Budha would help with household chores in the morning and evening at Teacher Shahi’s house and attend school in the afternoon. When Teacher Shahi, who had given him shelter, moved to Kathmandu, Budha also went with her six years ago to continue his secondary and higher education.

Objan’s elder brother Kapur Budha said, “After my brother managed to study for SEE and grade 12 with the help of others, he had been living in a separate rented room in Kathmandu for six months to pursue higher education. He died during the Gen-z Movement.” After Teacher Shahi found it difficult to continue sheltering him due to family and other reasons, Budha had to live on his own. Following the loss of external support, his financial difficulties began to increase.

As the burden of campus tuition fees, room rent and food expenses grew, he called home and informed his parents and brother about his plan to go abroad. Although he wished to get a job in the country after completing higher education, his difficult financial condition forced him to consider going abroad.

Initially, he had planned to find employment in the country and serve society in his village. Budha, who aimed to become a lawyer and provide justice to victims of injustice, called home on Bhadra 21, two days before the protest. When he shared his plan to go abroad, neighbors and relatives also became concerned. His parents were not very happy with the idea, particularly because of his active involvement in social work and his nature of participation in every community activity. The plan further worried his family, who had hoped he would secure a government job and shoulder the family’s financial responsibility.

Although family members advised him not to go abroad, Budha said he had no choice as there was no employment in the country. On Bhadra 23, he joined the protest from Chabahil against corruption control and injustice organized by the Gen-z group. While he was at the forefront of the peaceful protest chanting slogans, he was injured by a bullet fired during the demonstration. He succumbed to his injuries on the second day of treatment at the hospital. After learning about the incident, his family tried to contact him by phone but panicked when they could not get through. Only four days after the movement were they informed of Budha’s death.

Following the news, Budha’s family was plunged into grief, and silence spread across the neighborhood. His parents, living in a geographically remote area of Bajura, wished to go to Kathmandu to see their son’s body but lacked the financial means. After seeking help from others, they reached Nepalgunj but could not proceed further as they were unable to purchase plane tickets. Objan’s mother said they eventually managed to buy tickets with assistance and reached Kathmandu. She said, “Even though my son was shot dead in the movement, I found many other sons who consoled me in my grief. Even in sorrow, I felt comforted by the support of thousands.”

The government has declared Objan Budha a martyr of the Gen-z Movement and provided a relief amount of Rs. 1.5 million. Expressing his grief, his father Manipal said, “My son’s dream of becoming a lawyer after his studies and providing justice to victims remained unfulfilled.” Earlier, Manipal used to earn by working in India for six months after completing agricultural work. After Objan’s death, the government has also provided him with employment at the Oil Corporation in Chitwan.

Objan’s brother Kapurraj said that with the death of his brother—who had promised that their three brothers and parents would never face hardship due to financial problems—their hopes have also faded. Objan had planned to make his younger brother Prajwal one of the best players in the country. Prajwal said, “My brother had planned to invest in my sports training in Kathmandu after earning money abroad and make me a national player. Since he was interested in football and cricket, he had told me to take sports training in Kathmandu after passing SEE. After his death, my trust and hope were shattered.”

Prajwal added that the encouragement and affection from his brother, which had inspired him to study, is now gone forever. Sajan Rokaya of Pandusain in Budhinanda Municipality, who also participated in the Gen-z Movement demonstration, was injured as well. He, too, was in Kathmandu for his studies.