Who is V Kamakoti, IIT Madras chief & ‘man of scientific temper’, facing backlash for gaumutra view

Kamakoti endorsed medicinal benefits of cow urine last week & later asserted that there is ‘scientific evidence’. Those at IIT Madras say his beliefs have never disturbed the academics.

Fareeha Iftikhar and Prabhakar Tamilarasu

Amid backlash for endorsing the medicinal benefits of cow urine, with opposition leaders accusing him of promoting “pseudoscience” and demanding an apology, V. Kamakoti, director of Indian Institute of Technology Madras, defended his statement Monday, asserting that there is “scientific evidence” to support it. Speaking to media persons, Kamakoti reiterated that there is “scientific evidence” that cow urine contains antibacterial and antifungal properties, and shared five research papers backing the claim. “The antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of cow urine have been scientifically demonstrated… Top journals in the United States have published scientific evidence.

It is important to note that my comments were made in the context of advocating for organic farming and the protection of indigenous cattle breeds, which play a crucial role in agriculture and the overall economy,” he said. Asked if he consumes Panchgavya combination of five cow products, including milk, cow urine, cow dung, ghee and curd he said, “During our festivals, we would eat Panchagavya. It is in our customs. I do eat Panchagavya.” In a video clip that is being circulated on social media, Kamakoti is seen speaking about the benefits of cows, gaushalas (cow shelters) and central government’s initiatives to preserve cows at a Mattu Pongal celebration at a gaushala in West Mambalam in Chennai on 15 January.

Speaking in Tamil, Kamakoti shared the story of a sanyasi (her mit) and how his fever was cured by drinking cow urine. He said, “Gaumutra is antibacterial, antifungal, and a cure for digestive issues, irritable bowel syndrome and so many such issues. It is a very big medicine.” This has sparked a political controversy with leaders from multiple opposition parties slamming Kamakoti’s remarks. However, his colleagues and students at IIT Madras say that he is a “balanced” academic with a scientific temper. Congress leader Karti Chidambaram criticised the institute director for his statement and wrote in a post on X Saturday, “Peddling pseudoscience by @iitmadras Director is most unbecoming @IMAIndiaOrg.” DMK leader K. Ponmudi also condemned the remarks and sought an apology from Kamakoti for endorsing “unscientific” details. But BJP’s K. Annamalai defended him.

According to sources at IIT Madras, Kamakoti, being an organic farmer, is associated with some gaushalas in and around Chennai. “It was a private event, which he attended in his personal capacity. It has nothing to do with IIT Madras. Mattu Pongal is a celebration of cattle and a tradition in Tamil Nadu, and therefore he was invited for the same. He spoke about organic farming in detail,” a source told ThePrint.

‘Man of scientific temper’: Kamakoti was appointed as the director of IIT Madras in January 2022. Before that, he was a professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of the institute. He completed BE (Computer Science) from University of Madras, followed by Masters of Science (by research) and PhD at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. He is also a member of the advisory committee for India’s semiconductor mission.

Several faculty members and students told The Print that Kamakoti is a “balanced person”, when it comes to administration, and has never crossed the line of academics inside the institution. A final-year BTech student told The Print, requesting anonymity, that while Kamakoti has been professional and balanced in his administrative role, the incident has raised some concerns among students. “It is so unfortunate what the director has said, although he is generally a man of scientific temper.”

Kamakoti as the director: Under the leadership of Kamakoti, IIT Madras has reached significant milestones since 2022. In 2023, it became the first ever IIT to establish an offshore campus in Zanzibar. Additionally, it has maintained its position as the topranked educational institution in India in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings, securing the top spot yet again in 2024. (Source: The Print)