Nepal, March 27 -- Finally, the tectonic plates of Nepali politics have shifted. And the ensuing youthquake has landed squarely at the gates of Singha Durbar. Today, former Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) mayor Balendra Shah is being sworn in as the new prime minister in a loud and historic departure from the game of musical chairs played by the older set of leaders for decades. At just 35, Shah stands in stark contrast to the ossified leadership that long dominated the national landscape, narrowing the chasm between a country with a median age of 26 and people's representatives. The era of the old guard, defined by ego-tussles and a disconnect from the modern world, is hopefully over and the era of the youth has begun.

The March 5 ele...