Prof. V. Kamakoti is counted among India’s leading computer scientists. He obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Madras. He joined the institute’s faculty in 2001 and was appointed Director of IIT Madras in January 2022.
His areas of expertise include computer architecture, information security, VLSI design and microprocessor technology. He led the SHAKTI Microprocessor Project, under which India’s first indigenous, industrial-grade microprocessor was developed. The project aimed to reduce reliance on foreign chips in the defense, communications, and strategic sectors.
He has been associated with the National Security Advisory Board, led a government task force on Artificial Intelligence, and contributed to technical committees of the Reserve Bank of India and the National Stock Exchange. He has authored over 150 research papers and received numerous national honours.
Controversy over exam reforms reaches Parliament
While discussing the committee’s composition in the Lok Sabha, Priyanka Gandhi remarked sarcastically that it included a “cow urine expert.” This comment subsequently became a subject of political debate. The government stated that Prof. Kamakoti was included in the committee due to his technical expertise and extensive experience in the fields of cybersecurity and digital infrastructure.
What is the root of the controversy?
During an event held in Chennai in January 2025, Prof. Kamakoti referred to certain studies and traditional beliefs regarding Indian breeds of cows, natural farming and cow urine. He noted that published studies mention certain antimicrobial properties of cow urine. This long-standing controversy has now resurfaced in parliamentary debates.
गांधी परिवार घोर हिंदू विरोधी और सनातन विरोधी है ये वो खुद प्रमाणित कर देता है …
संसद में बहस के दौरान प्रियंका गांधी ने एक वरिष्ठ प्रोफेसर का मजाक उड़ाते हुए उन्हें गौ मूत्र का सेवन करने वाला बताया …
इस गांधी परिवार को हिंदुओं से इतनी नफरत है फिर भी कुछ दोगले हिंदू इनके… pic.twitter.com/vW1zAY0Op6
— Yogi Devnath 🇮🇳 (@MYogiDevnath) July 28, 2026
The significance of the cow in Indian tradition
The cow holds a special place in India’s cultural and philosophical traditions. In Vedic literature, ‘Dharmashastras’, ‘Puranas’ and Ayurveda, the cow is regarded as a vital pillar of agriculture, nutrition and the rural economy. The ‘Atharvaveda’ describes the cow as a symbol of prosperity and nourishment, while numerous Ayurvedic texts mention ‘Panchagavya’. In the Ayurvedic tradition, ‘Panchagavya ’-comprising milk, curd, ghee, cow urine and cow dung- is referenced in various contexts. Modern science is now also conducting serious research in this area.
Research published in prestigious national and international scientific journals, US patents and studies by Indian scientific institutions indicate that standardised and distilled cow urine extract contains bioactive compounds. These compounds can be utilised to boost immunity, control infections, and enhance the efficacy of medicines.
Ayurveda Recognised Its Importance Thousands of Years Ago
The earliest reference to the medicinal properties of cow urine is found in the ‘Charaka Samhita’, authored by Maharshi Charaka. In the ‘Charaka Samhita’ (edited by Pt. Kashinath Shastri and Dr Gorakhnath Chaturvedi; Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi, 2016 edition), specifically in ‘Sutra-sthana’, Chapter 1, Verses 100–101 (page 19), it is stated:
“Mutram gavyam rase tikta-madhuram kapha-vata-nut. Shula-gulmodara-anaha-kushtha-roga-haram param.”
“मूत्रं गव्यं रसे तिक्तमधुरं कफवातनुत्। शूलगुल्मोदरआनाहकुष्ठरोगहरं परम्॥”
This means that cow urine is considered beneficial for alleviating abdominal disorders and skin diseases, in addition to pacifying ‘Kapha’ and ‘Vata’ doshas. This reference demonstrates that Indian medical science was aware of the therapeutic properties of cow urine thousands of years ago.
Sushruta and Vagbhata also described its medicinal properties
In the ‘Sushruta Samhita’ (Dr Ambikadatta Shastri, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan, Varanasi, 2018, ‘Sutrasthana’ Chapter 45, p. 224), Maharshi Sushruta describes cow urine as a vermifuge (anti-parasitic agent) and notes its utility in treating respiratory conditions (such as breathing difficulties and cough) and skin diseases.
Similarly, in the ‘Ashtanga Hridayam’ (Kaviraj Atridev Gupta, Chaukhamba Prakashan, Varanasi, 2014, p. 74), Maharshi Vagbhata characterises cow urine as ‘’Vishapaham’’, meaning a natural antitoxin or detoxifier and deems it beneficial for conditions such as oedema, anaemia, haemorrhoids, and parasitic infestations. The consistent findings across these three Ayurvedic texts have also served as a foundation for research by modern scientists.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra just called IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti a “Gaumutra expert” in Lok Sabha.
This is the same man who:
Built India’s microprocessor program
Advises on National Security
Leads AI & cybersecurity at the top IIT
When your only argument against a… pic.twitter.com/u86xFCfU3w
— SUDHIR (@seriousfunnyguy) July 28, 2026
Modern laboratories have also discovered bioactive compounds
To scientifically validate Ayurvedic claims, Dr Sandeep Kumar, Dr Anjali Malhotra, and their colleagues analysed the urine of Indian-breed cows using state-of-the-art ICP-MS and HPLC techniques. Their research, titled “Biochemical and Elemental Analysis of Cow Urine (Bos indicus) and Its Therapeutic Relevance,” was published in the ‘International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research’ (IJPSR) in 2020 (Vol. 11, Issue 8, pp. 3712–3718).
The study revealed that cow urine consists of approximately 95 per cent water, with the remaining portion containing urea, mineral salts, enzymes and bioactive compounds. According to the study, certain constituents present in cow urine can activate the immune system and provide natural antiseptic properties. This is why the scientific community emphasises the need for further in-depth study at the molecular level.
Effects on bacteria have boosted scientists’ confidence.
Regarding the antimicrobial properties of cow urine, Dr P.S. Nautiyal, Dr R.K. The research titled “In Silico and In Vitro Studies of Antibacterial Activity of Cow Urine Distillate Against Pathogenic Microorganisms,” published by Dubey and his research team in the ‘Journal of Chemistry’ (Wiley Online Library, 2024), is particularly noteworthy.
In this study, laboratory tests demonstrated that cow urine distillate has the potential to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria such as ‘Staphylococcus aureus’ and ‘E. coli’. The researchers concluded that compounds present in cow urine, such as ferulic acid and gallic acid, can affect the protein systems of these bacteria. This study is considered a foundation for further therapeutic research in this field.
US Patent Boosts Global Credibility
US Patent No. 6,410,059 B1 stands as one of India’s most significant scientific achievements regarding cow urine. On June 25, 2002, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted this patent to Indian scientists, including Dr S.P.S. Khanuja, Dr J.S. Arya, and Dr Kumar Sushant. This research was conducted by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP).
The patent identifies cow urine extract as a ‘bio-enhancer’, a natural substance capable of increasing the bioavailability of certain medicines. The research also noted that, under controlled conditions, using it alongside specific antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs showed the potential to multiply the drugs’ effectiveness.
In Parliament today, Priyanka Gandhi called IIT Madras Director Padma Shri Prof. V. Kamakoti a “Gaumutra Expert.”
She was criticising the new exam reforms panel and mocked his past comments on the medicinal benefits of cow urine.
But here’s who Prof. Kamakoti really is:… pic.twitter.com/QRpCUwvIcW
— Being Political (@BeingPolitical1) July 28, 2026
Modern Scientists Also Highlight the Need for Research
Recently, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, stated at the ‘Swadeshi Science and Organic Agriculture Conference’ held in January 2025: “Peer-reviewed data from global scientific journals and Indian veterinary research indicate that the urine of Indian-breed cows possesses unique biological properties. There is a need for further scientific research at the molecular level.” So, what was said that was incorrect? He is simply reiterating what both ancient studies and modern scientific research have already established regarding cow urine.
Similarly, Gandhian researcher Raojibhai Manibhai Patel, in his book ‘Urine Therapy: Historical and Practical Perspective’ (Navajivan Publishing, Ahmedabad; reprinted edition, 2011; pp. 142–145), describes cow urine as a natural antiseptic and discusses its potential use in treating skin-related ailments.
Cow Urine: The Confluence of Tradition and Science and the Congress
At a time when the world is returning to naturopathy, organic products and traditional knowledge, ongoing scientific studies on cow urine indicate that India’s ancient Ayurvedic heritage is becoming a significant foundation for scientific research, rather than remaining merely a matter of faith.
Indeed, available research suggests that this confluence of tradition and science opens up new horizons for health sciences in the future. In this context, the question facing Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today is: if a scientist draws conclusions on a subject based on their own research and shares them publicly, should they be targeted? Do their decades of scientific dedication hold no significance in public life? Is it appropriate to disregard their scientific achievements, much like the numerous Congress members in Parliament who were seen laughing uproariously during Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s aforementioned statement?
