Long before the end of December, a snapshot of a highly exclusive Christmas tree went viral in Nepal. Not for its festive cheer, but for the exhibitionist exposure of the lavish lifestyle of corrupt politicians and their children.
The word ‘nepo baby’ is borrowed from gossip stories about Bollywood and Hollywood, accusing celebrity children of getting movie roles because of their last name rather than their talent. But recently, this already pejorative nickname has taken on a sharper, political edge. It migrated from Instagram and TikTok into the vernacular of Kathmandu’s streets. Elitist sons and daughters of politicians and bureaucrats, showing off their wealth, unwillingly sparked the country’s frustration with inequality and corruption.
