Kathmandu. Memes targeting the Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak are currently being widely shared on social media amid the visit visa scandal. Even the younger generation—typically active on the internet and social platforms but generally silent on political issues—are sharing these memes on their walls and stories.
Generally, a meme refers to graphics, texts, or short video clips created with the intention of humor or satire. However, if we seek a more structured definition, a meme can be described as a humorous or modified image, video, or text rapidly spread by internet users across the internet.
The term “meme” was first coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. He introduced the word in his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, where he described memes as units of cultural transmission—ideas that spread from one person to another through imitation. These can include tunes, ideas, or popular phrases. Dawkins argued that memes function like genes in the sense that they replicate and evolve.
The meme culture as we know it today is believed to have begun in the 1990s with the increasing accessibility of the internet. The 3D animation “Dancing Baby,” which went viral via email in 1996, is often considered the beginning of modern internet memes. Following broader access to social media in the 2000s, memes have become a global phenomenon.
While memes may have started as a form of entertainment or humor, it is now worth asking: Are memes still just about making people laugh? This writer believes that, particularly in matters such as corruption, political misconduct, and social injustice, memes carry deeper, often unspoken meanings.
For example, consider a meme that went viral during the cooperative fraud scandal involving fugitive GB Rai. It used a still image of Rai set against the then-popular song “Rai Maila Le Gaun Chhodyo Re.” Were users sharing this meme simply for laughs, or were they also indirectly questioning our failing security systems and the inaction of responsible authorities?
When the mayor’s voice echoes in a meme lamenting, “Gariba ko chameli boldini koi chhaina ,” following brutal actions against street vendors by the municipal police—does that not demand accountability from the mayor himself? When users pair a speech by Prime Minister KP Oli with a paper boat in a meme—are they merely laughing or also mocking unfulfilled promises?
Let’s talk about the latest trend. Numerous memes have surfaced regarding the recent Visit Visa Scandal, where immigration officials at Tribhuvan International Airport are alleged to have extorted tens of millions of rupees daily from young people traveling abroad on visit visas—under the protection of the Home Ministry itself. Can we assess the true weight of these memes?
A BBC article cited media scholar Paolo Gerbaudo, who said, “Memes have become a form of political dissent, primarily using satire and irony. They expose the arrogance and shortcomings of those in power, often by ridiculing their exaggerated public image.”
According to Gerbaudo, memes today are not just tools of humor but are also powerful expressions of accountability and protest. When underprivileged citizens are forced to migrate abroad due to a lack of opportunity—and are then exploited like leeches draining blood by corrupt officials, middlemen, and businessmen allegedly protected by high-ranking politicians—memes become more than jokes. When youths share these memes on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or other platforms, their goal is often less about humor and more about venting their frustration and posing moral questions to those in power.
Memes, then, are a form of creative protest used by today’s youth—who are deeply embedded in technology and social media in both personal and professional life. This style of protest can even become a catalyst for change, as seen in recent global events.
During the Arab Spring, which began in Tunisia in 2010 and spread across the Middle East and North Africa by 2012, memes played a powerful role in mocking dictatorships. Likewise, in the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, memes like the “Winnie the Pooh” meme targeting Xi Jinping became symbols of resistance.
That said, there have also been cases where memes have sparked unnecessary controversy or contained offensive remarks. In such cases, it becomes essential—especially for the youth—to exercise greater sensitivity.
In summary, memes today are not just about laughter. They are reflections of societal frustration, political dissent, and a creative form of resistance.
