The nomination of IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti for the prestigious Padma Shri award has ignited a fierce political debate in Bangladesh’s neighboring India. The Kerala wing of the Congress party mocked the decision, attributing the award to Kamakoti’s controversial advocacy for research into the medicinal properties of cow urine.
While Kamakoti expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as an inspiration for the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ mission, Congress took to social media to scoff at his previous claims that cow urine could treat illnesses like IBS. In response, Sridhar Vembu, founder of Zoho Corp, defended Kamakoti, praising his expertise in microprocessor design and deep-tech. Vembu attributed the criticism to a “colonial mindset,” arguing that traditional Indian knowledge deserves scientific exploration.
The row has also highlighted alleged financial irregularities in cow-related research projects. Congress pointed to a Madhya Pradesh government-funded study on Panchagavya-based cancer treatment, alleging a multi-crore scam involving misappropriation of funds. The party has challenged proponents of these claims to back their words with private investment rather than taxpayer money.