'Drank cow urine & fever disappeared': IIT Madras director's claim sparks debate, with Zoho CEO & The Liver Doc responding

IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti has sparked heated debate after claiming that cow urine, or 'gomutra,' has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and digestive properties that could aid in treating ailments like fever and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). His statement has drawn sharp criticism, with social media doctor Cyriac Abby Philips, widely known as 'The Liver Doc,' calling Kamakoti a "moron" and an "idiot." On the other hand, Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu has come to Kamakoti's defense, stating, "He gave citations of scientific papers on the beneficial properties of cow urine." This isn't the first clash between the Vembu and The Liver Doc, as debates over medical science and pseudo-science have often placed them on opposing sides.

What did IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti say about 'gomutra'?

In a widely circulated video, IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti is seen speaking at a Pongal celebration event in Chennai, standing in front of a poster featuring a cow.

???? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ????????? ???? ????????? ????????? ?????????.. ??????? ????????? ?????????? pic.twitter.com/3StltuzStU

¡ª Subathra Devi (@SubathraDevi_) January 18, 2025

During his address, he narrates the tale of a 'sanyasi' who reportedly cured himself of a fever by drinking cow urine, or 'gaumutra.'

The audience responds with scattered applause as Kamakoti asserts, "...we have to accept its medicinal value."

Detailing the story, he said, "There was a sanyasi... he had a high fever, and the people wanted to call a doctor. But the sanyasi, whose name I forget, said (in Sanskrit), 'gaumutra pibami,' and went to a cowshed to collect some cow urine. He drank it all, and within 15 minutes, his fever was gone."

He further claimed that cow urine has "anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties" and can be beneficial for digestive issues, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other ailments.

Unsurprisingly, these statements have sparked significant backlash online.

IIT Madras director, V. Kamakoti is an expert in QUANTUM PHYSICS

BUT?
His statement about "cow piss and cow shit being super medicine" is out of his FIRM RELIGIOUS BELIEFS [see that WiFi Signal on his forehead?]

??He has zero authority on medicine or microbiology, just like us pic.twitter.com/PrVIR1FDW9

¡ª ????????? (@catale7a) January 22, 2025

Sure. Do those research papers also state that Gomutra can be drunk straight off the 'tap' when one has fever, as claimed by the IIT Madras Director? pic.twitter.com/woHuZpQ4E9

¡ª Karthik ?? (@beastoftraal) January 21, 2025

What has Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu said on the cow urine remark?

Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu has publicly expressed his support for IIT Madras Director Prof. Kamakoti following the backlash over his remarks about cow urine.

In a post on X, Vembu described Kamakoti as "an accomplished researcher and educator," emphasising that the director had provided "citations of scientific papers on the beneficial properties of cow urine."

IIT Madras Director Prof Kamakoti is an accomplished researcher and educator.

He gave citations of scientific papers on the beneficial properties of cow urine. Modern science is increasingly recognising the value of our traditional insights. Online mobs are simply channeling¡­

¡ª Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) January 21, 2025

Vembu highlighted that modern science is increasingly validating traditional insights, arguing that the criticism against Kamakoti stemmed from online mobs channelling "their own prejudices, not based on any scientific insight."

Vembu encouraged Kamakoti to "stay strong" and resist the pressures of what he called "attack mobs."

What 'The Liver Doc' said about the cow urine remark

The Liver Doc, aka Cyriac Abby Philips, had quite the opposite views as compared to Vembu, which isn't the first time. (they had earlier clashed over the benefits of 'grounding,' ie walking barefoot.)

Also read: Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu & 'The Liver Doc' clash online as doctor warns against 'health-illiterate boomer uncles' like Vembu

IIT Madras Director Prof Kamakoti is absolute proof of what Prof Richard Feynman had to say ¡°Never confuse education with intelligence, you can have a PhD and still be an idiot.¡±

Additionally, Prof Kamakoti is prejudiced against the benefits of urine of other animals by being¡­ https://t.co/M5kVqOoE0W pic.twitter.com/8TmjhHFZ2s

¡ª TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) January 22, 2025

Quoting physicist Richard Feynman, he wrote, "Never confuse education with intelligence, you can have a PhD and still be an idiot," implying Kamakoti exemplifies this sentiment.

He sarcastically urged Kamakoti to educate themselves and promote therapies involving human, elephant, and donkey urine as well, questioning, "Why only the cow?"

Concluding his post, Philips slammed the remarks, calling them the work of a "bunch of morons dragging this country back to the Stone Age."

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