Social Activist Balen Shah: From Rapper to Nepal’s Young Prime Minister

March 27 (Chaitra 13), Kathmandu – “In the future, I will cast a vote and vote for myself because I know how to develop the country.”

On March 4, 2017, Balen Shah posted these words on his Facebook status. At a time when citizens enthusiastically exercised their voting rights in the 2017 House of Representatives election, Balen presented a distinctly different perspective on social media.

He was primarily known as a rapper under the group ‘Ra Baj’ initiated by Yam Buddha. Though his songs captured the frustration of youth, they never gained enough popularity to indicate the start of a political career.

However, during the 2022 local elections when he ran for mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, his March 4, 2017 status resurfaced, sparking interest and discussion about his political credentials.

This search for his profile culminated in him becoming the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and making history as Nepal’s youthful Prime Minister.

With Balen Shah sworn in as the Prime Minister, much has been discussed about his political journey and his background in rap music. It is also important to examine the character of this social activist.

A Timely Opportunity

In 2013, the Kathmandu police launched a campaign to control crime and hooliganism, targeting youths with long hair. Led by then Metropolitan Police Chief SSP Bikram Singh Thapa, the campaign detained youths sporting ear piercings, tattoos, and long hair, labeling them as ‘goons.’

On the very first day, 711 youths were taken into custody, with some having their hair cut in front of their parents. The campaign triggered widespread backlash on social media, and Balen released the rap ‘Police Resistance’ to protest.

At the same time, the youth wing of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (UML) staged rallies with hundreds of motorcycles, which Balen openly criticized on social media.

This period also saw the emergence of an alternative political movement led by Ujwal Thapa’s Bibeksheel Nepali campaign, where Balen played the role of a creative dissident.

“Received Full Wages, Now Give Us the Constitution”

In 2011, Ujwal Thapa led the ‘Nepal Unites’ campaign, a significant youth pressure movement demanding the parliamentarians finalize the constitution. Protests were organized in places like Maitighar Mandala and Baneshwor, with slogans such as ‘Received Full Wages, Now Give Us the Constitution’ becoming very popular.

At that time, Balen was studying engineering and rising in the Nepalese hip-hop scene. He was a regular participant in the campaign and used rap to criticize corruption and the inefficiency of politicians.

The April 25, 2015 earthquake marked a turning point in Balen’s life. Amid constitutional crises and political instability, the disaster transformed him from a rapper into a practical civil engineer and reconstruction activist.

He volunteered in Kavre district, contributing to the construction of approximately 2,500 homes and worked actively across more than 35 districts.

He designed earthquake-resistant structures and participated in reconstruction efforts in areas like Gorkha and Barpak.

In interviews and on social media, Balen stated, “After the 2015 earthquake, as a civil engineer, I worked in various parts of the country, reconstructing nearly 2,500 houses in Kavre alone, and subsequently worked in more than 35 districts.”

He collaborated with local communities, training homeowners through the ‘owner-driven’ reconstruction model, which successfully promoted faster and safer rebuilding.

Thus, Balen Shah’s journey from a social activist to becoming Nepal’s young Prime Minister is a remarkable story of commitment and transformation.