Former Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) Krishnamurthy V Subramanian has strongly defended IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti amidst criticism regarding his comments on the medicinal value of cow urine. Subramanian questioned Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi, who had referred to Kamakoti as a "cow urine expert."
In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter) on July 29, 2026, Subramanian asserted that scientific ideas must be evaluated based on evidence and rigorous testing, not on their source or traditional roots. He drew parallels from the history of science, notably mentioning mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, who attributed his theorems to Goddess Namagiri, and chemist August Kekulé, who conceived the benzene structure in a dream.
"If we do not reject Ramanujan's theorems because Devi came and gave them in his dreams, why should we reject a research question on Gomutra?" Subramanian asked, emphasizing that the origin of an idea holds no epistemic weight, neither positive nor negative.
Kamakoti's remarks, made during a Go Samrakshana Sala event in Chennai earlier this year, highlighted the antibacterial, antifungal, and digestive properties he claimed cow urine possessed. These comments, made in the context of indigenous cows' role in organic farming, sparked a political controversy that resurfaced this week.
Scientific Methodology Over Origin
Subramanian referenced philosophers of science Hans Reichenbach and Karl Popper to underline the distinction between the context of discovery and the context of justification. He argued that how an idea arises is a matter of psychology or history, while its truth is determined solely through evidence and testing.
He further stated that traditional knowledge can be a valuable source of hypotheses for scientific inquiry, citing examples like Nobel laureate Tu Youyou's discovery of artemisinin from ancient Chinese texts, and medicines derived from plants like foxglove and willow bark. However, he stressed that traditional knowledge is not a substitute for empirical evidence.
Peer-Reviewed Research and Progress
Regarding cow urine research specifically, Subramanian pointed out the existence of peer-reviewed studies investigating its antimicrobial, antifungal, antidiabetic, and agricultural applications. He contended that once a hypothesis is being explored through such research, labeling it "unscientific" is inaccurate.
Addressing criticisms about Kamakoti's qualifications as a computer scientist to comment on microbiology, Subramanian clarified that while pharmacological conclusions require specialists, researchers across disciplines are competent to discuss scientific methodology. He dismissed the argument that the absence of an approved medicine invalidates a research line, reminding that every approved drug began as an unproven hypothesis.
"Science progresses by testing hypotheses, not by mocking them. Equally, science does not accept hypotheses because they are ancient, traditional, or culturally meaningful. It accepts or rejects them on the basis of evidence alone," Subramanian concluded, reiterating his defense of scientific temper.
V Kamakoti was recently named as one of six members on the Centre's task force for reforming the National Testing Agency (NTA).