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Dear Friend,
This issue of Countercurrents brings together reflections on war, democracy, ecology, and the struggles of communities defending their rights in different parts of the world. Several articles examine the evolving conflict involving Iran, the unequal structures of the international order, and the contradictions between geopolitical rhetoric and human realities. Palestine, Kashmir, Pakistan, and India feature prominently in discussions on power, legitimacy, and democratic accountability.
The climate crisis remains another recurring theme. Alongside warnings about rising temperatures and ecological breakdown, contributors explore practical alternatives rooted in agriculture, water conservation, and the defense of the commons. From Bundelkhand to Kenya, these articles highlight efforts to sustain livelihoods while protecting ecosystems.
Questions of concentrated wealth, media responsibility, scientific temper, labour rights, and the growing influence of corporate logic in politics are also addressed. The issue documents struggles against mining violence, threats to indigenous communities, and attempts to suppress dissent.
At a time when militarism, inequality, and ecological destruction increasingly intersect, independent journalism has an essential role in connecting these realities and amplifying voices that challenge injustice.
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IRAN PEACE DEAL
Factional Politics in Iran over Agreement with the United States to End the War
by Akbar E Torbat
Akbar E. Torbat examines divisions within Iran’s ruling establishment over a possible interim agreement with the United States to end the current war. The article explores tensions between radical and reformist factions, disputes over uranium enrichment and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, criticism of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and concerns raised by members of parliament. It also analyzes the role of key political figures and the broader implications of negotiations with Washington for Iran’s nuclear program, foreign policy, and internal balance of power.
US Brigandry on foreign ships, killing three Indian seafarers, even while PM Modi hails Trump and USA as India’s ‘democratic’ ally
by Ramakrishnan
Drawing on reported attacks on foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian crews and the deaths of three Indian seafarers, Ramakrishnan examines New Delhi’s response to US military actions in the Gulf of Oman and contrasts it with the Modi government’s continued strategic alignment with Washington. The article highlights statements by Indian officials, the Forward Seamen’s Union of India, and foreign policy commentators, while questioning the effectiveness of India’s protests and discussing wider debates around the Quad, US-China relations, and India’s geopolitical priorities. It foregrounds the human cost borne by Indian seafarers amid escalating tensions and maritime confrontations.
The Age of Disposable Peoples: An Indictment Before the Tribunal of History — With Iran as Exhibit
by Laala Bechetoula
Laala Bechetoula’s article reflects on the idea that certain peoples are treated as expendable in the contemporary international order. Using Iran as a central example and drawing parallels with Palestine, Lebanon, Cuba and Iraq, the essay examines war, sanctions, intervention and the unequal application of international norms. It argues that political power often creates hierarchies of human worth and warns against normalizing the dehumanization of entire societies. Framed as a moral and historical indictment, the article calls for the defense of sovereignty, human dignity and the principle that no people should be considered disposable.
PALESTINE
Who Gave Them the Right? IMPACT-SE and the Question of Legitimacy in Global Education
by Fatima Aldajani and Rana Dajani
Palestinian education has repeatedly come under scrutiny from IMPACT-SE, an organization whose reports have influenced international funding and policy decisions. In this article, Fatima Aldajani and Rana Dajani question the legitimacy, methodology, and accountability of the group, arguing that its assessments reflect political bias and unequal standards. They contend that communities affected by curriculum reviews must have a voice and that educational evaluation should be transparent, consistent, and independent. The article situates these concerns within a longer history of external attempts to define what knowledge and memory are considered legitimate.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Wake Up and Face the Heat!
by Robert Hunziker
Wake Up and Face the Heat by Robert Hunziker examines accelerating drought, record-breaking temperatures, rising fossil fuel financing, and the growing environmental footprint of AI data centers. The article highlights concerns over water use, ecosystem stress, and increasing public resistance to new data center projects. Drawing on recent scientific reports and news coverage, it argues that climate impacts are intensifying while governments, corporations, and financial institutions continue to support policies and investments that deepen dependence on fossil fuels, raising concerns about the trajectory of the global climate crisis.
COUNTER SOLUTIONS
Harnessing Nature’s Carbon Sink: Why We Must Pay Farmers for Climate Services
by K Sahadevan and Smitha P Kumar
In this article, K. Sahadevan and Smitha P. Kumar argue that tackling climate change requires not only reducing emissions but also recognizing the carbon removal services provided by agriculture and forestry. They contend that farmers, who help capture and store atmospheric carbon through plant growth, should be compensated for this contribution. The article examines climate justice, flaws in current carbon accounting, and the imbalance between industrial emitters and agricultural communities. It proposes carbon taxes and international cooperation as mechanisms to reward farmers while strengthening rural livelihoods and promoting sustainable land management.
BIWAL’s Sustainable Development and Climate Resilient Initiatives Bring Hope to Bundelkhand’s Villages
by Bharat Dogra
This article by Bharat Dogra highlights the work of BIWAL (Bundelkhand Initiative for Water, Agriculture and Livelihoods) in strengthening sustainable farming and climate resilience across hundreds of villages in Bundelkhand. Through cooperation among civil society organizations, restoration of water resources, promotion of natural farming and community participation, the initiative has reached over 75,000 farmers. The article examines how improved livelihoods, ecological protection and climate adaptation can reinforce each other in vulnerable regions, while also discussing the need to extend benefits to landless households and deepen social reform efforts.
DEFENDING THE COMMONS
The Right To Breathe: Land, Ecology, and the Struggle for the Commons in Kenya
by Wanjora Wangui
Wanjora Wangui examines the links between land, ecology, and social justice in Kenya, arguing that environmental degradation is inseparable from histories of dispossession and contemporary forms of inequality. The article traces how forests, wetlands, rivers, and public spaces have become sites of struggle over ownership, development, and democracy. It also reflects on the importance of nature for collective wellbeing and critiques market-based climate solutions that reproduce unequal power relations. Defending the commons, the author argues, is essential to protecting communities, cultural memory, and the ecological foundations of life.
FIFA WORLD CUP
A World Cup of Borders: FIFA’s “Global Belonging” Stops at US Immigration
by Varanasi Subrahmanyam
Drawing on recent controversies surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Varanasi Subrahmanyam examines the contrast between FIFA’s language of global inclusion and the realities of U.S. immigration policies. The article highlights cases involving players, referees and officials who faced detention, visa restrictions or exclusion, and places these incidents within a broader historical critique of imperialism and unequal global power. It also looks at the commercialization of the tournament and the barriers faced by ordinary fans. The essay argues that promises of universal belonging often collide with systems of exclusion and geopolitical hierarchy.
EXTREME WEALTH AND CORPORATE POWER
Elon Musk Is the World’s First Trillionaire—Let’s Make Sure He’s the Last
by Ed Pomfret
This article by Ed Pomfret examines the emergence of Elon Musk as the world’s first trillionaire and argues that extreme wealth concentration reflects deeper structural inequalities. The piece links billionaire fortunes to public subsidies, political influence, and economic systems that favor elites. Drawing examples from several countries, it highlights concerns about crony capitalism, democratic accountability, and widening global disparities. It also points to growing social movements and debates over wealth taxes, debt relief, and redistribution, presenting these developments as part of a broader struggle over economic power and the future direction of public policy.
The Elon Musk Cult: Drooling in the SpaceX Bubble
by Dr Binoy Kampmark
This article by Dr. Binoy Kampmark examines the media celebration surrounding Elon Musk’s reported trillionaire status following SpaceX’s public offering. It argues that much of Musk’s wealth remains tied to company valuations and stock holdings rather than liquid assets, while highlighting SpaceX’s recent losses and its dependence on government contracts and subsidies. The article also raises questions about tax policies that enable extreme concentrations of wealth and criticizes the largely uncritical coverage offered by financial commentators and business publications. It situates Musk’s rise within broader debates about public funding, market speculation, and inequality.
KASHMIR
A Baloch Nationalist’s Lament for Kashmir’s Uprising Under Pakistani Rule
by Baloch Siddik Azad
Baloch Siddik Azad reflects on the recent unrest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir through the lens of Baloch experience, drawing parallels between the two regions’ histories of militarization, political marginalization, and struggles over identity. The article argues that the grievances expressed in Kashmir resonate deeply with many Baloch who have faced similar challenges. It also examines the responses of Pakistan, India, and the international community, while presenting a perspective of solidarity rooted in shared experiences of conflict and dispossession.
PAKISTAN
Zehni Mareez: A Profile of General Asim Munir
by Murtaza Shibli
Murtaza Shibli argues that personal vendettas and military interference have pushed Pakistan into deep political, economic, and security crises. The article traces allegations surrounding the removal of Imran Khan, election controversies, worsening insurgencies, and crackdowns on dissent in Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It presents Munir as a leader driven by revenge and self-preservation, contending that his rule has weakened democratic institutions and intensified instability across the country.
INDIA
India’s Blinkit Democracy: Betrayal as a Business Model
by Satya Sagar
This article by Satya Sagar examines the growing convergence of politics and corporate culture in India. It argues that electoral competition increasingly resembles a marketplace shaped by concentration of power, strategic defections and image management. The article explores how parties function as political enterprises, why loyalty has become increasingly transactional and how citizens are often treated more as consumers than participants in democracy. It also reflects on the need for stronger accountability mechanisms and democratic reforms that give voters greater control over those elected in their name.
NITI Aayog and Federal Rights: Recasting Centre-State Relations in India
by Pon Chandran
NITI Aayog was introduced as a platform for cooperative and competitive federalism, replacing the Planning Commission in 2015. This article by Pon Chandran examines how the shift has altered Centre-State relations, particularly in matters of fiscal autonomy and policymaking. It explores differing perspectives across regions, highlighting concerns raised by Southern states over centralization and contrasting them with the more supportive approach of several Northern states. The article argues that the debate over NITI Aayog reflects larger questions about federalism, equity, and the balance between national priorities and the rights of states within the Indian Union.
Nehru and Modi: A Question of Legacy, Not Longevity
by Sanjay Parate
Sanjay Parate examines claims surrounding the comparative legacies of Jawaharlal Nehru and Narendra Modi, arguing that historical assessments should be based on contributions rather than the length of time spent in office. The article discusses Nehru’s role in shaping independent India, the constitutional context of his early years as Prime Minister, and contrasts his policies with those pursued during the Modi era. It also reflects on questions of democracy, secularism, economic development and the interpretation of history in contemporary political discourse.
Twin Deceivers Among the Prime Ministers of India
by Bhabani Shankar Nayak
In this article, Bhabani Shankar Nayak reviews the political legacies of India’s prime ministers, examining their ideological orientations, personal integrity, and approaches to governance. He contrasts leaders associated with the freedom movement and social-democratic traditions with the rise of Hindutva politics under Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi. The article argues that contemporary politics has been marked by growing authoritarianism, unfulfilled promises, and the consolidation of crony capitalism. It calls for a revival of democratic values and people-centred politics as essential for addressing economic inequality and strengthening India’s constitutional framework.
PM CARES: Examining Questions of Coercion, Accountability and Transparency
by Mohd Ziyaullah Khan
PM CARES was created during the COVID-19 crisis to mobilize resources for emergency relief and received substantial public support. This article examines the debates that followed over its legal status, transparency, auditing mechanisms, and accountability. It reviews the government’s position, criticisms raised by opposition leaders and civil society, and the Supreme Court’s ruling on the fund’s distinct identity. The discussion highlights broader questions concerning governance, public trust, and the balance between emergency responsiveness and institutional oversight, making PM CARES one of the most debated public initiatives of the pandemic period.
HINDUTVA
Questions for Hindutva Politics: The RSS, Power and Historical Responsibility
by Dr Suresh Khairnar
The article by Dr. Suresh Khairnar examines the RSS's long-standing claim of being a cultural organisation and contrasts it with its historical and organisational links to the Jana Sangh and the BJP. It discusses the RSS's role in electoral politics, communal mobilisation, developments in the Northeast, and debates surrounding Partition and minority insecurity. Drawing on historical events and personal experiences, the author argues that the consequences of religious polarisation deserve serious attention and calls for a critical examination of the political trajectory of Hindutva over the past century.
WORKERS
The Human Cost of India’s Informal Economy
by Utkarsh Mishra
This article by Utkarsh Mishra examines the human cost of India’s vast informal economy, which employs nearly 90% of the workforce. It traces the realities faced by brick kiln workers, construction labourers, and gig workers, highlighting debt bondage, child labour, unsafe conditions, and the absence of social protection. Drawing on research and workers’ testimonies, the article argues that exploitation is embedded in the organisation of work rather than being an accidental by-product of growth. It also highlights ongoing struggles by workers and the need for greater accountability and labour protections.
SCIENTIFIC TEMPER
Scientific Temper in the Age of Viral Misinformation
by Anand Subramani
Anand Subramani examines the importance of scientific temper in an age shaped by social media algorithms, artificial intelligence, and information overload. Reflecting on lessons from the pandemic, he argues that literacy alone is insufficient without critical thinking and a spirit of inquiry. The article explores how misinformation thrives in digital spaces and why evidence-based reasoning remains essential for democracy, technology, media, and civic life. Scientific temper, he suggests, is not confined to laboratories but represents an attitude of questioning, openness, and intellectual discipline that societies need more than ever.
HUMAN RIGHTS
The killing of 3 Friends Opposing Destructive Mining is a cruel reminder of the terror of the Mining Mafias
by Bharat Dogra
Bharat Dogra examines the brutal killing of three villagers in Haryana who had reportedly opposed illegal mining, placing the incident within a wider pattern of violence linked to mining mafias across India. Drawing on field experiences and documented cases, the article describes the ecological damage, threats to workers, and attacks on activists, journalists, and officials who have challenged excessive and illegal extraction. It argues that political protection and fragmented resistance have allowed these networks to thrive, and calls for stronger coordination among environmental groups, labor organizations, and rural communities confronting mining-related destruction.
Concerned Citizens Demand Recall of Property Attachment Order Against Niyamgiri Leader Lada Sikaka
by Concerned Citizens
A statement signed by lawyers, writers, activists and civil society representatives has expressed concern over a Judicial Magistrate’s order directing the attachment of the property of Lada Sikaka, leader of the Niyamgiri Surakshya Samiti, after declaring him an absconder in a 2017 case. The signatories contend that the charges involved do not warrant such action and allege procedural irregularities in the case. They describe the order as arbitrary and part of a broader pattern of marginalisation of indigenous communities. The statement appeals to the higher judiciary to take suo motu cognizance and recall the order.
Land Alienation to Outside Agencies in A&N Islands Violates Aboriginal Protection Regulation
by E A S Sarma
Former Tribal Welfare Commissioner and former Union Secretary E.A.S. Sarma has urged the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes to intervene against the reported alienation of land in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to outside commercial agencies. Referring to an advertisement offering “luxury plots” near Collinpore in South Andaman, he argues that such transactions violate the intent of the A&N Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, which was enacted to safeguard the interests of socially and economically backward indigenous communities and restrict the acquisition of land by outsiders.
JOURNALISM AND RELIGION
When Piety Becomes a Public Relations Strategy
by Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh examines how religious symbolism and public displays of piety can be used to shape reputations and shield influential individuals from scrutiny. The article argues that journalism must focus on conduct, evidence, and accountability rather than appearances or carefully cultivated images. Drawing attention to the risks of reputation laundering, it stresses the importance of editorial independence and contextual reporting. Respect for faith and spiritual traditions, the author writes, should never come at the cost of truth. A credible press serves the public interest by looking beyond image management and examining facts.
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