Nepal, March 29 -- At Ratnapark there is a splotched mural that has been painted over with brusque strokes of white paint and scribbled on forcefully. The smear is an obvious attempt at dismissing an artistic protest. On closer inspection of the mural, however, the bold letters peek out despite the white paint that blurs the two-word text. 'Dead Sarkar', it says (Dead Government). Painted by Laxman Shrestha, an artist, and his now disbanded Khoj group, this mural was the group's attempt at calling out the government's incompetence and a plea to the public to not remain silent.

"The problem with Nepali people and the government is that they readily compromise and ask for compromises as well. With everything that is going on in the country...