Against the Current: Journalism in the Age of Triviality by Dr Salim Nazzal countercurrents.org/2026/10/… As part of Countercurrents Silver Jubilee Symposium, Palestinian writer Dr Salim Nazzal writes about the role of independent journalism in defending truth and amplifying voices marginalised by mainstream media. He describes Countercurrents as a platform for social justice, human rights, peace, democracy and ecological transformation, sustained by contributors from diverse countries and backgrounds. Nazzal highlights its coverage of Palestine and its commitment to defending human dignity without distinction. He characterises this approach as “journalism of solidarity”, recognising the publication’s 25-year effort to maintain editorial independence and preserve a living archive of struggles, ideas and resistance.

The Meaning of Freedom in the Contemporary Context by Adv Dr Shalu Nigam countercurrents.org/2026/10/… In "The Meaning of Freedom in the Contemporary Context*", Adv Dr Shalu Nigam examines how freedom must extend beyond political independence and formal rights. Drawing on radical humanist philosophy, the article argues that economic inequality, discrimination, concentrated power and digital technologies can undermine individual autonomy. Freedom involves the ability to think independently, make meaningful choices, pursue happiness and develop one’s full potential. The article also examines the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, surveillance, data manipulation and algorithmic control. It presents individual sovereignty, social justice and participatory democracy as essential to a continuing process of individual and collective emancipation.

Periyar’s Radical Vision and the Unfinished Struggle Against Caste by Pon Chandran countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Periyar’s Self-Respect Movement challenged caste hierarchy, religious orthodoxy and patriarchy, reshaping Tamil Nadu’s political and social institutions. The Dravidian movement advanced affirmative action, women’s rights, linguistic autonomy and reforms in marriage. Yet caste discrimination and violence against Dalits persist, particularly when individuals cross caste boundaries through marriage. Cases involving Kannagi and Murugesan, Ilavarasan and Divya, and V. Sankar and Kausalya expose the continuing conflict between individual freedom and caste authority. Pon Chandran examines the gap between political empowerment and social emancipation, arguing that the movement’s commitment to equality remains incomplete while caste-based violence and patriarchal control continue.

Rahul Gandhi Must Move Beyond Attacking Saffron Ideology to Defeat the RSS-BJP Combine by Arun Srivastava countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Rahul Gandhi’s attacks on the RSS and BJP’s saffron ideology have not significantly weakened their core support base. Arun Srivastava argues that the opposition needs a more pragmatic political strategy that combines institutional challenges with grassroots mobilisation. He points to the role of welfare benefits, organisational networks and voter priorities in sustaining BJP support. The article calls for a stronger focus on reservations, social justice, systemic inequality and the aspirations of younger voters. It also examines the controversy surrounding electoral rolls, the demand for accountability from the Election Commission, and the challenge of translating public protests into electoral gains.

Israel Escalates Its Assault on Hebron: What Is Happening? by Quds News Network countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Israeli forces have escalated their assault on Hebron in the occupied West Bank, displacing Palestinian families, demolishing buildings, arresting residents and imposing sweeping movement restrictions. Around 1,200 Palestinians had been displaced by Saturday, according to a Palestinian official cited by Reuters. The operation has expanded to towns across the West Bank, disrupting access to healthcare, education and essential services. Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans for an unprecedented offensive, while Defence Minister Israel Katz has explicitly compared the campaign to military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Human rights groups warn of collective punishment and possible war crimes.

NAZA: It’s Not Just About Israel and Gaza. It’s About the Evil Lurking in Us All by Jonathan Cook countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Jonathan Cook examines "NAZA" , a documentary featuring 24 Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers describing their roles in the destruction of Gaza. Their accounts reveal how artificial intelligence systems enabled mass killing, how civilian deaths were treated as acceptable collateral damage, and how individuals justified their actions by claiming they were following orders. But Cook argues that the film’s significance extends beyond Israel and Gaza. It exposes the banality of evil, the enduring legacy of colonialism and the complicity of Western governments that supplied weapons, intelligence and diplomatic cover. The documentary confronts viewers with an unsettling question of collective responsibility.

Mint tea and fading memories of Jaffa by Salsabeel Abu Loghod countercurrents.org/2026/10/… In “Mint Tea and Fading Memories of Jaffa,” Salsabeel Abu Loghod remembers her Aunt Nima, a Palestinian woman born in Jaffa in 1942 who was displaced to Gaza during the 1948 Nakba. Through memories of mint tea, family songs and the Jaffan dialect, she recounts a life shaped by displacement and longing for home. As Alzheimer’s disease gradually erased Aunt Nima’s memories, Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza deprived her of essential medicines, vitamins and oxygen. She died in August 2024, aged 82. Her final embrace remains a tender memory amid the devastation surrounding her family.

Israeli soldiers raid and loot homes in Hebron, continuing a pattern of seizing Palestinian property by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Israeli forces have raided hundreds of homes in Hebron, seizing money, gold jewellery and personal belongings while forcing families to leave without their possessions. According to Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, around 300 families, comprising approximately 2,200 people, were displaced amid demolitions, mass arrests and severe restrictions on movement. Testimonies describe soldiers taking cash and jewellery without receipts or documentation. The report also documents settler theft of sheep in Masafer Yatta. Citing international humanitarian law, Euro-Med Monitor calls for an independent investigation, accountability for those responsible, an end to arms transfers and urgent protection for Palestinian civilians.

Gandhian Economic Order: A Glimpse by S M Visakh countercurrents.org/2026/10/… In "Gandhian Economic Order: A Glimpse", S M Visakh examines Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of an economy centred on human dignity, freedom and non-violence. Gandhi’s economic philosophy emphasised productive physical labour, equal dignity for all occupations, fair wages and the ethical responsibilities of employers. His concept of trusteeship proposed that wealth beyond an individual’s needs should serve society. Critical of industrialisation that displaces workers and deepens inequality, Gandhi advocated decentralised production through village industries, with machinery supporting rather than replacing human labour. The article outlines an alternative economic order grounded in social justice, local production and the welfare of all.

Maharashtra Drought: Why a Crisis Suits Everyone by Mohd Ziyaullah Khan countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Maharashtra’s drought has exposed the vulnerability of rural livelihoods and the political contest over access to relief. Following deficient rainfall and mounting agricultural losses, the state has expanded its drought-affected areas, while disputes over excluded constituencies have raised concerns about the fairness of assessments. The article examines how drought relief can become a means for political leaders to demonstrate influence, claim credit and mobilise support. Drawing lessons from the 1972 drought, it argues for transparent assessments, timely compensation, reliable employment and long-term investment in water management. Relief must reach genuinely affected communities, irrespective of political affiliation.

The Politics of Migration and the Migration of Politics by Thomas Klikauer countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Migration has shaped human history, transforming economies, societies, families and individual lives. In "The Politics of Migration and the Migration of Politics", Thomas Klikauer examines how migration, once widely recognised as a source of cultural diversity and economic development, has increasingly been framed as a problem in political debate. He acknowledges its benefits alongside vulnerabilities, including labour exploitation, population pressures and the loss of skilled workers from poorer countries. Klikauer argues that these challenges require evidence-based policies, social investment, worker protection and international cooperation. Sustainable migration policy must address real concerns without allowing resentment to strengthen far-right politics.

Echoes from the Margins: Why I Chose to Walk Away from a Decade of Academic Servitude by Dr Rafi Ramzan Dar countercurrents.org/2026/10/… After a decade of teaching in Jammu and Kashmir’s higher education system, Dr Rafi Ramzan Dar has chosen to walk away from contractual academic employment. Despite holding a doctorate and qualifications including NET, SET and JRF, he describes years of low wages, seasonal disengagement, salary deductions and bureaucratic hurdles. His monthly remuneration of Rs 28,000 was effectively reduced by employment limited to seven months a year. His experience also highlights how contractual status undermined the recognition of his teaching experience and excluded him from institutional decision-making. His departure raises concerns about academic dignity, fair wages and labour rights.

Europe Has Become a Democracy That Cannot Afford Its People by Ashish Singh countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Europe’s protests in 2026 reflect growing frustration over the cost of living, unaffordable housing, insecure employment and declining public services. From France and Belgium to Spain, Portugal and Italy, workers, students and citizens are challenging policies that leave them struggling despite living in one of the world’s most prosperous regions. Ashish Singh examines the widening gap between formal democratic rights and the economic conditions needed to exercise them meaningfully. He argues that public anger cannot be dismissed as temporary discontent when institutions appear increasingly unresponsive. The crisis raises fundamental questions about inequality, political accountability and the future of European democracy.

Saplings, Nutrition Gardens and Perseverance: A path of self-reliance in place of migration by Vikas Parashram Meshram countercurrents.org/2026/10/… In the tribal belt stretching from Banswara to Dahod, farmers are building livelihoods through sapling nurseries, organic farming and nutrition gardens. Terasingh Baria turned his nursery experience into an enterprise, earning income from saplings and vegetables. Pratheg Vala Garasia began cultivating turmeric and vegetables, enabling his family to stop migrating to Gujarat for wage labour. Ramanlal Damor progressed from a kitchen garden to a grocery shop, flour mill, pickup truck and tent-rental business. Supported by village-level Gram Swaraj groups, their experiences show how local resources, shared knowledge, water access and sustained effort can strengthen household incomes and rural self-reliance.

Attacks on Christians in West Bengal: Religious Intolerance and the Politics of Voter Roll Revision by Prof Dr P J Thomas Pathilchira countercurrents.org/2026/10/… West Bengal has witnessed a reported surge in attacks on Christian prayer meetings, churches and religious gatherings following the formation of the new state government. India Hate Lab recorded at least 60 violent incidents against Christians between May 2026 and September 20. The attacks include the disruption of a Santhali Christian prayer convention in Nadia district, vandalism of a church under construction, and assaults on prayer meeting attendees. The article examines these incidents alongside the intensive revision of voter rolls, the political shift in the state, and concerns over religious freedom, constitutional equality and the growing influence of Hindu nationalist organizations.

Balochistan’s Expanding Conflict: Pakistan’s Counterinsurgency, the Recruitment of Former Afghan Fighters, and the Architecture of a Proxy War by Baloch Siddik Azad countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Balochistan’s Expanding Conflict examines reports that Pakistan is recruiting former Afghan security personnel for operations in Balochistan. The article explores the implications for civilian security, accountability, regional relations and the longstanding conflict between the Pakistani state and Baloch nationalist movements. Citing reporting by RFE/RL and allegations raised by Baloch rights activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch, it examines claims about recruitment, training camps and the deployment of former Afghan personnel. The author argues that expanding armed operations cannot resolve grievances over political exclusion, resource control, enforced disappearances and national rights, and calls for accountability, transparency and political justice.

Terrorists in the West Bank: Settler Violence and the Excusing Hand by Dr Binoy Kampmark countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank continues amid limited accountability and official responses that deflect scrutiny. On October 16, veteran Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was beaten by settlers while covering the olive harvest, suffering a broken rib, a broken vertebra and a serious finger injury. A day later, European diplomats and church dignitaries were targeted near Ramallah. Although suspects were detained, most were soon released to house arrest. Meanwhile, the killing of two Israeli soldiers prompted military operations and demolition orders in Hebron. Dr Binoy Kampmark examines settler violence, political impunity and collective punishment.

From Lynching and Encounter to Bulldozer: Are These Tools of Political Control against Muslims in India? by Syed Mohammad Raghib countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Syed Mohammad Raghib examines the relationship between religious identity, state power and criminal justice in contemporary India. The article analyses mob lynchings, police encounters and bulldozer demolitions, focusing on concerns about selective enforcement, communal violence and collective punishment. It discusses prominent cases of vigilante violence, controversies surrounding police killings and the Supreme Court’s 2024 safeguards against punitive demolitions. Situating these practices within debates over BJP-led governance and majoritarian politics, the author examines their implications for constitutional rights and equal citizenship. The article calls for impartial investigations, institutional accountability, transparent records and equal protection under the law.

What Can the World Learn from China? by Bhabani Shankar Nayak countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Bhabani Shankar Nayak examines China’s achievements in poverty reduction, education, healthcare, infrastructure, science and technology under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. The article contrasts China’s model of socialist modernisation with the economic insecurity, unemployment, rising living costs and privatisation affecting people in Western capitalist countries. It argues that China’s investments in education, public health and social welfare reflect a commitment to meeting people’s needs. Challenging anti-China narratives, the author presents China’s experience as evidence that socialism offers an alternative approach to economic development, governance and social progress.

Milan Prepares and Braces for Unrest by Phil Pasquini countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Milan is preparing for further unrest as the newly formed October 17 Movement mobilises protesters demanding economic reforms, higher wages, lower fuel prices and increased educational funding. Following last weekend’s riots, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has deployed 500 soldiers to support more than 5,000 police officers. Drones, military patrols and heightened surveillance mark the city’s security response, while businesses board up shopfronts against possible looting. Yet the economic grievances driving the demonstrations remain unresolved. Protesters point to rising living costs, unemployment and widening inequality, questioning the government’s priorities amid substantial military spending. Amnesty International Italy maintains that protest can make a difference.