Chennai: V Kamakoti, the director of Indian Institute of Technology Madras, asserted that five peer-reviewed scientific papers have validated the anti-infective properties of cow urine. During an event at a goshala in West Mambalam on January 15, coinciding with 'Mattu Pongal', a day dedicated to cattle, he claimed that cow urine exhibits antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory abilities, supported by experimental research published in peer-reviewed journals.
His remarks sparked controversy on social media, with many labeling his statements as unscientific, questioning the credibility of a leader from a prestigious institution.
VIDEO | Here's what Dravidar Kazhagam Vice-President Kali Poongundran said on the 'cow urine' remarks by IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti yesterday.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 19, 2025
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/RZhkDlvXx7
Who Is V Kamakoti?
V. Kamakoti, recognized for his expertise in VLSI design, cluster computing, and other advanced computing areas, has received numerous accolades, including the Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship.
The remarks were reportedly made during Kamakoti’s participation in an event at a Go Samrakshana Sala, a cow protection center in Chennai. During his speech, he also recounted a story about a monk who, he claimed, consumed cow urine to recover from a high fever. However, the Hindustan Times stated that the authenticity of the video could not be independently verified.
He emphasized that extensive research has been published, particularly in the renowned journal Nature, showcasing evidence for the claims made. During his recent speech on science and cows, he covered various topics such as natural farming and gobar gas, while addressing queries about the medicinal properties of cow urine.
Madras #IIT Director V Kamakoti speaking in a Pongal festival in Chennai said diseases can be cured quickly by drinking cow urine.
— Suresh Kumar (@journsuresh) January 19, 2025
Kamakoti addedthat when his father had a fever, drank cow urine on the advice of a sanyasi and the fever subsided after fifteen minutes. he said… pic.twitter.com/JA40Qsicnv
Kamakoti's Research On Cow Urine
Among the papers he referenced is a study titled "Peptide profiling in cow urine reveals molecular signature of physiology-driven pathways and in-silico predicted bioactive properties," authored by Rohit Kumar, published in Nature in 2021 by ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Haryana.
Additional papers include reviews such as "A review on Gomutra (Cow Urine)" in the Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research (2020), "Benefits of cow urine – A Review" in the International Journal of Recent Advances in Multidisciplinary Research (2017), and studies discussing its chemotherapeutic potential in various journals.
Kamakoti discussed a United States patent awarded to Khanuja et al on May 24, 2005, regarding the use of bioactive fraction from cow urine distillate, filed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
When confronted with research papers circulating on social media that highlight the harmful effects of cow urine, Kamakoti admitted he was unaware of such studies but acknowledged the existence of diverse research perspectives. He mentioned a study focusing on indigenous cow breeds and expressed optimism that with the growing interest in this area, scholars in Indian traditional medicine could explore further research.