'Anti-bacterial, digestive properties': IIT Madras chief's praise for cow urine draws criticism

Chennai: A video clip of the IIT Madras Madras Madras Director V Kamakoti is going viral on social media where he is seen purportedly praising the medicinal value’ of ‘Gomutra’ while speaking on protecting indigenous breeds of cows and the significance of switching to organic farming. While addressing an event at a Go Samrakshana Sala on the day of Maatu Pongal (January 15, 2025) in Chennai, he narrated an anecdote from the life of a sanyasi and said the ascetic, when he had high fever, consumed gomutra and he was cured.

The director said, therefore, gomiyam (cow urine/gomutra) has, “anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and digestive properties,” and it is useful as a medicine for conditions such as the Irritable Bowel Syndrome and batted for consideration of cow urine’s “medicinal value.”

He made this remark after underlining the importance of organic farming and the crucial role played by indigenous breeds of cattle in agriculture and the overall economy.