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Zoho Founder Takes A Dig At Congress, Defends IIT Professor's Old 'Gomutra' Comment

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu defended IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti after Congress mocked his Padma Shri honour, reigniting debate over science, politics and academic merit.

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Key points generated by AI, verified by newsroom
  • Zoho founder defends IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti for Padma Shri.
  • Congress mocked Kamakoti for remarks on cow urine and national vision.
  • Vembu criticized detractors'
  • Debate reignited on science, politics, and India's public discourse.

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has strongly defended IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti after the Congress party took a sarcastic dig at his selection for the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award. Vembu praised Kamakoti’s credentials, calling him a deep-tech expert in microprocessor design and asserting that he “richly deserves the honour” for leading what he described as India’s best technological institution. The controversy erupted after the Congress Kerala unit posted a sarcastic congratulatory message on social media, mocking Kamakoti’s past remarks on cow urine. 

Vembu Defends Indigenous Scientific Research

The post drew criticism from Vembu, who accused detractors of having a “colonial mindset” that dismisses indigenous scientific inquiry. Vembu went on to argue that cow dung and cow urine possess microbiomes that could hold scientific value, and that such subjects should not be ridiculed without proper research. He said similar ideas would be readily accepted if validated by Western institutions. The remarks revived debate around Kamakoti’s earlier claims about the antibacterial and antifungal properties of cow urine, which he had linked to published research on peptide profiling in scientific journals. Sharing a video in which he linked the Padma Shri recognition to his commitment towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision.

While Kamakoti himself has not responded to the Congress post, the episode has sparked fresh discussion on the intersection of science, politics, and public discourse in India. Kamakoti’s academic profile lists his research interests in areas such as VLSI design, high-performance computing, algorithms, and computational geometry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu defend IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti?

Sridhar Vembu defended V. Kamakoti against a sarcastic dig from the Congress party regarding his Padma Shri award. Vembu praised Kamakoti as a deep-tech expert deserving of the honor.

What was the Congress party's criticism of V. Kamakoti?

The Congress party posted a sarcastic message mocking V. Kamakoti's past remarks on cow urine and linking his Padma Shri award to Prime Minister Modi's 'Viksit Bharat' vision.

What is Sridhar Vembu's stance on the criticism and indigenous research?

Vembu criticized the detractors for having a 'colonial mindset' that dismisses indigenous scientific inquiry. He argued that subjects like cow dung and urine could hold scientific value and shouldn't be ridiculed without research.

What are V. Kamakoti's academic research interests?

V. Kamakoti's research interests include VLSI design, high-performance computing, algorithms, and computational geometry.

About the author Ritwik Dutta

Ritwik Dutta is a Senior Copy Editor at ABP Live English, who blends an engineer’s precision with a reporter’s instinct. With a background in data and analytics, he delivers evidence-driven, real-time coverage of key national and global developments, breaking down complex subjects into clear, engaging stories that make information more accessible and strengthen public understanding.

For tips and queries, write to ritwikd@abpnetwork.com.

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