Countercurrents.org

Heist at Ram Temple! Why a Supreme Court-Monitored Investigation is the Need of the Hour by Subhash Gatade https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/heist-at-ram-temple-why-a-supreme-court-monitored-investigation-is-the-need-of-the-hour/ This article by Subhash Gatade examines the allegations of large-scale embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and argues that the investigation has exposed deeper questions about accountability, political influence, and institutional transparency. It traces the chronology of the controversy, highlights demands for an independent probe, and situates the issue within broader debates around governance, public trust, and the politics of religious institutions. The article contends that only a Supreme Court-monitored investigation, accompanied by full public disclosure of findings, can ensure a credible inquiry into the allegations and restore confidence in the investigative process.

The Daughter Who Became a Movement: How Dr. Mahrang Baloch Is Rewriting the Story of a Forgotten Homeland by Baloch Siddik Azad https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/the-daughter-who-became-a-movement-how-dr-mahrang-baloch-is-rewriting-the-story-of-a-forgotten-homeland/ This article examines the rise of Dr. Mahrang Baloch as a leading voice in the struggle for human rights and political recognition in Balochistan. Tracing her journey from personal loss to public leadership, it explores how her emphasis on peaceful protest, civic mobilization, and human rights advocacy has reshaped political discourse within Baloch society and among the global Baloch diaspora. The article argues that her leadership represents a significant generational shift away from traditional political frameworks and armed resistance, placing questions of dignity, memory, accountability, and democratic participation at the center of the Baloch movement.

Manufacturing Consent for Genocide: Adam H. Johnson’s Indictment of the Liberal Media by Ida Audeh https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/manufacturing-consent-for-genocide-adam-h-johnsons-indictment-of-the-liberal-media/ This review of Adam H. Johnson’s "How to Sell a Genocide" examines the role of major U.S. liberal media outlets in shaping public understanding of Israel’s war on Gaza. Drawing on Johnson’s extensive analysis of thousands of news articles and television segments, the review argues that media narratives often minimized, rationalized, or obscured the scale and nature of the destruction. It highlights how journalistic practices, editorial choices, and political assumptions contributed to normalizing mass violence and limiting public scrutiny. The review also reflects on the ethical responsibilities of journalism during periods of war, state violence, and humanitarian catastrophe.

West Bengal 2026 – How We Arrived Here by Sandeep Banerjee https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/west-bengal-2026-how-we-arrived-here/ In this wide-ranging analysis of the 2026 West Bengal election, Sandeep Banerjee argues that the outcome was not a sudden political shift but the culmination of long-term social, economic, cultural, and ideological changes. Tracing developments from the Left Front era through the rise of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, the article examines transformations in labour relations, agrarian distress, political culture, media influence, religious mobilisation, and electoral processes. It contends that understanding the present political landscape requires a deeper examination of decades of structural changes and missed opportunities for democratic and progressive mobilisation.

Development Without People is Not Development: Why India Needs More Social Impact Assessors by Dr M Muthu Gopalakrishnan https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/development-without-people-is-not-development-why-india-needs-more-social-impact-assessors/ As large-scale infrastructure, energy, and industrial projects reshape societies, the social consequences of development decisions require greater attention. In this article, Dr M. Muthu Gopalakrishnan argues that Social Impact Assessment is essential for ensuring that economic growth remains inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. He examines the growing importance of Social Impact Assessors in evaluating how development affects livelihoods, communities, cultural heritage, and social justice. The article highlights the need to strengthen this emerging profession through education, policy support, and institutional investment so that development outcomes are measured not only by economic gains but also by improvements in human well-being.

From IIT to the Villages: The Five-Decade Journey of Bhartendu and Shobhna Prakash in Science and Sustainable Development by Bharat Dogra https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/from-iit-to-the-villages-the-five-decade-journey-of-bhartendu-and-shobhna-prakash-in-science-and-sustainable-development/ In 1974, Dr. Bhartendu Prakash left a promising academic career at IIT Kanpur to dedicate his life to village-based science, education, and sustainable development in Bundelkhand. Together with his wife, Shobhna Prakash, he spent over five decades building institutions, promoting organic farming, documenting traditional knowledge, advancing water conservation, and supporting rural livelihoods. Their work combined scientific inquiry, Gandhian values, and grassroots engagement, influencing generations of activists and researchers. This article traces their remarkable journey of commitment, resilience, and innovation, and highlights the enduring relevance of their vision for equitable and ecologically sustainable development.

Yusuf Meherally: The Young Mayor Who Gave India the Slogan “Quit India” by Dr Suresh Khairnar https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/yusuf-meherally-the-young-mayor-who-gave-india-the-slogan-quit-india/ This article revisits the life and political legacy of Yusuf Meherally, one of the most influential socialist leaders of India's freedom movement and the man who coined the slogan "Quit India." It traces his journey from student activist and trade union organizer to becoming Mumbai's youngest Mayor in 1942 while imprisoned by the British. The article highlights his role in anti-colonial mobilization, his commitment to secular and socialist values, and his contribution to shaping mass political movements. At a time of deep social polarization, Yusuf Meherally's life offers an important historical perspective on democratic, plural, and progressive politics.

Four questions the world is too scared to ask, but cannot avoid by Bharat Dogra https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/four-questions-the-world-is-too-scared-to-ask-but-cannot-avoid/ Bharat Dogra examines the escalating risks surrounding the Ukraine-Russia war and the growing concerns about a wider international conflict. He argues that the war was avoidable and warns that continued escalation, expanding military involvement, and attacks on increasingly sensitive targets could trigger direct confrontation between Russia and NATO states. The article outlines a possible chain of events leading from conventional warfare to the risk of nuclear conflict and global catastrophe. Stressing that even a small probability of such an outcome is unacceptable, Dogra calls for urgent efforts toward ceasefire, restraint, negotiations, and durable peace to prevent irreversible human consequences worldwide.

Why Gaza is the world’s most dangerous place for children by Maureen Clare Murphy https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/why-gaza-is-the-worlds-most-dangerous-place-for-children/ A new UN commission of inquiry report documents the devastating impact of Israel’s military campaign on Palestinian children in Gaza, concluding that the scale of death, injury, displacement, trauma and deprivation is unprecedented in modern conflict. The report details the killing and maiming of thousands of children, the destruction of hospitals and schools, widespread malnutrition, psychological trauma, detention and abuse, and the long-term erosion of Palestinian society’s future generations. Drawing on extensive testimony and evidence, the investigation argues that the harms inflicted on children in Gaza will have consequences that extend far beyond the duration of the current war.

Everywhere we went, the screens were dark by Ahmad Abu Shawish https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/everywhere-we-went-the-screens-were-dark/ In this deeply personal account from Gaza, Ahmad Abu Shawish reflects on the role of football amid war, displacement, and deprivation. Recalling nights spent watching World Cup matches in crowded streets and searching for rare pockets of electricity, he explores how shared moments of joy and collective attention persist under conditions of siege and violence. As power outages, destroyed public spaces, and constant insecurity reshape everyday life, football becomes more than entertainment: it offers a temporary connection to the outside world and a means of preserving community, memory, and human dignity in the midst of catastrophe.

The East and the Recovery of the Spirit: A Reflection on the Question of Renaissance and Civilization by Dr Salim Nazzal https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/the-east-and-the-recovery-of-the-spirit-a-reflection-on-the-question-of-renaissance-and-civilization/ This essay examines the idea that the crisis facing the East is not only political or economic, but also civilizational and spiritual. Dr Salim Nazzal argues that genuine renewal requires recovering cultural confidence, intellectual independence, and the capacity for creative contribution. The article critiques the universal claims often associated with Western modernity while rejecting isolationism or civilizational conflict. Instead, it calls for a pluralistic vision of humanity in which diverse civilizations engage as equal partners. The recovery of the East’s spirit, the author contends, is ultimately a human project rooted in dignity, dialogue, and coexistence across a shared human future.

Will Capitalist Crisis Lead to Proletarian Revolution? by Pon Chandran https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/will-capitalist-crisis-lead-to-proletarian-revolution/ Why have capitalist crises so rarely produced socialist revolutions? This article by Pon Chandran examines one of the central debates in Marxist political thought: whether revolutions emerge spontaneously from economic contradictions or require conscious political organization and leadership. Drawing on the ideas of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Rosa Luxemburg, Antonio Gramsci, and Mao Zedong, it traces how revolutionary theory evolved in response to historical experience. From class consciousness and vanguard parties to cultural hegemony and peasant mobilization, the article explores the conditions under which social crises may or may not develop into transformative political movements.

The Planetary Boundary We Crossed Before We Could Even Measure It by Utkarsh Mishra https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/the-planetary-boundary-we-crossed-before-we-could-even-measure-it/ Humanity has created more than 350,000 manufactured chemicals and chemical mixtures, many of which have never been fully tested for safety. Scientists now argue that we have already crossed the planetary boundary for “novel entities” — not because they can precisely measure the limit, but because chemical production has far outpaced our ability to monitor its impacts. From microplastics in human blood and brain tissue to persistent industrial chemicals contaminating ecosystems worldwide, this article examines how a largely invisible form of pollution has become a planetary-scale crisis, and why regulation continues to lag behind production.

Selling Genocide: Adam Johnson’s Forensic Indictment of Liberal Media’s Role in Gaza by Kim Scipes https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/selling-genocide-adam-johnsons-forensic-indictment-of-liberal-medias-role-in-gaza/ This review examines Adam H. Johnson’s "How to Sell a Genocide", a detailed study of how major American liberal media outlets covered Israel’s war on Gaza between October 2023 and October 2024. Drawing on extensive data, media analysis, and interviews, Johnson argues that influential newspapers and television networks helped normalize, justify, and obscure the scale of Palestinian suffering while shaping public consent for continued military support. Reviewer Kim Scipes assesses the book’s evidence, methodology, and broader implications, presenting it as a significant contribution to understanding the relationship between media, political power, and mass violence.

How did the pandemic permanently push Dalit and Adivasi workers deeper into precarity? by Siddharth Jogdand and Aneesh K A https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/how-did-the-pandemic-permanently-push-dalit-and-adivasi-workers-deeper-into-precarity/ India’s emergence as the world’s fourth-largest economy has been accompanied by a powerful narrative of post-pandemic recovery. But new analysis of seven rounds of Periodic Labour Force Survey data reveals a starkly different reality for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe informal workers. The pandemic not only caused disproportionate job losses among these communities but also pushed many back into the most insecure and lowest-paid forms of employment. Even as GDP growth accelerated, structural inequalities deepened. This article examines how the economic shock of COVID-19 produced lasting setbacks for some of India’s most marginalized workers.

Crooked Donald and the Strait of Hormuz by Tom Engelhardt https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/crooked-donald-and-the-strait-of-hormuz/ In this essay, Tom Engelhardt examines the growing unpredictability of Donald Trump's second presidency through the lens of the recent U.S. attack on Iran and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. He argues that Trump's approach to war, diplomacy, and global power has introduced a new level of uncertainty into international politics, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the global economy and geopolitical stability. Reflecting on America's long history of military interventions, Engelhardt situates current developments within a broader historical context and considers what Trump's increasingly volatile decision-making could mean for the future.

A Life Extinguished Every Hour: The Harrowing Story of Agrarian Crisis by Vikas Parashram Meshram https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/a-life-extinguished-every-hour-the-harrowing-story-of-agrarian-crisis/ The latest data on farmer and farm labourer suicides in India reveals the continuing depth of the agrarian crisis, with more than 10,500 lives lost in 2024 alone. This article examines the growing vulnerability of landless agricultural workers, regional disparities in suicide rates, the impact of climate change and economic insecurity, and the long-term structural factors driving distress in rural India. Drawing on official statistics, research studies, and historical trends, it argues that the crisis extends far beyond individual tragedies and reflects deep systemic failures requiring urgent policy intervention and sustained social commitment.

When Relationships Become Crime Scenes: What Is Society Missing? by Dr Vishav Jyoti https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/when-relationships-become-crime-scenes-what-is-society-missing/ In this thought-provoking essay, Dr. Vishav Jyoti examines the growing incidence of violence within intimate relationships as a reflection of deeper social and emotional crises. Moving beyond sensational headlines and individual blame, the article explores how rapid social change, family pressures, digital culture, emotional illiteracy, and unresolved conflicts are reshaping human relationships. Drawing on sociological insights and contemporary realities, the author argues that society has invested heavily in education, success, and social conformity while neglecting emotional resilience and relationship skills. The article calls for greater attention to emotional intelligence, dialogue, and healthy conflict resolution.

Requiem for America on the Fourth of July by Chris Hedges https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/requiem-for-america-on-the-fourth-of-july/ Chris Hedges’ "Requiem for America on the Fourth of July" is a searing reflection on the political and economic transformations that, in his view, have hollowed out American democracy. Tracing the rise of neoliberalism, widening inequality, the erosion of democratic institutions, and the growth of authoritarian politics, Hedges argues that the current crisis is the culmination of decades of economic and political choices. Drawing connections between corporate power, social fragmentation, and the emergence of far-right movements, the essay presents a bleak assessment of the American republic on Independence Day and a lament for a democratic order that, he argues, has already been lost.

The Idea of ‘Disarming Artificial Intelligence’: A Message from Magnifica Humanitas by Dr Judith Anne Lal https://countercurrents.org/2026/07/the-idea-of-disarming-artificial-intelligence-a-message-from-magnifica-humanitas/ In this reflection on Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Dr. Judith Anne Lal examines the call to “disarm artificial intelligence” through the lenses of ethics, social justice, feminist scholarship, and global political economy. The article argues that while appeals to human dignity, civilizational love, and moral responsibility are essential, they remain inadequate without accountability, regulation, and democratic oversight of powerful technology corporations. It explores how AI systems reproduce existing inequalities, shape public discourse, affect vulnerable communities, and deepen global power imbalances, raising urgent questions about justice, governance, and the future of humanity.