Academics Attack Priyanka Gandhi for labelling Prof Kamakoti as “Gau Mutra Expert”
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, July 30: The Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Varda has come under heavy attacks from the academicians for criticising the constitution of the high-powered committee to recommend measures for plugging the loopholes in the public examinations system to curb question paper leaks referring to one of the members as a “cow urine exert.”
Ms Gandhi Varda had made the remarks in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday while participating in the debate on the “Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026,” popularly known as the anti-paper leak bill, which was subsequently passed by the lower house.
Criticising the Centre over the implementation of education reforms and the composition of the committee set up after the NEET paper leak controversy, Ms Gandhi had said, “He (the prime minister) needs to understand that merely setting up new committees will not work. Not a single recommendation of the Radhakrishnan Committee has been implemented to date. Meanwhile, the new committee includes a former IB chief, an IT company owner, and even a ‘gau mutra’ expert.”
Though she had not taken any name, it was widely understood that the reference was to Professor V Kamakoti, a Padma awardee. The director of the IIT, Madras, Prof Kamakoti is a member of the six-member task force on examination reforms constituted by the Centre following the NEET paper leak row.
More than 215 academicians, including vice-chancellors and former vice-chancellors, have written an open letter to Ms Gandhi expressing their disappointment over her “gau mutra expert” remark directed at Prof Kamakoti. The signatories said the comment was not just about one individual but also about the way academic debate should be conducted. According to the letter, disagreements with a scholar’s views should be addressed through reasoned discussion rather than personal labels.
The open letter said they were disappointed by Priyanka Gandhi’s reported remark describing Professor V Kamakoti as a “gau mutra expert.” “We write to express our disappointment over your reported remark describing IIT Madras Director Professor V Kamakoti as a ‘gaumutra expert.’ Whether intended as sarcasm or political rhetoric, such a characterisation raises concerns that go far beyond one individual. Professor Kamakoti is the head of one of India’s foremost scientific and technological institutions,” the letter said.
The signatories argued that every academic has the right to present hypotheses, discuss traditional knowledge and take part in scientific conversations. “Like every academic, he is entitled to present hypotheses, discuss traditional knowledge and participate in scientific conversations.”
The letter further stated, “To dismiss a scholar through a label rather than engage with the substance of his views risks undermining the very scientific temper that our Constitution calls upon every citizen to develop.”
It added, “Scientific temper is not merely scepticism towards unconventional ideas; it is equally the willingness to examine claims objectively before accepting or rejecting them. Our scientists, scholars and educators deserve to know that they can participate in public debate without fear of being reduced to dismissive labels,” they said in the three-page open letter.
“Professor Kamakoti is the head of one of India’s foremost scientific and technological institutions. He has M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Madras. He has published over 150 research papers and has been involved in over 50 R&D projects.
“He has several honours and accolades to his name, including the DRDO Academic Excellence Award and the Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association Techno Visionary Award. He has been the guiding force behind India’s first industry grade microprocessor. Needless to say, he is one of the top tech brains of the country,” the letter said.
The open letter also reminded the critics that history showed ideas once considered implausible eventually found scientific validation, while many widely accepted beliefs were later discarded.
“Equally troubling is the message such remarks send to India’s academic and research community. Our scientists, scholars and educators deserve to know that they can participate in public debate without fear of being reduced to dismissive labels. Criticise their arguments, challenge their evidence, demand higher standards of proof, but do not diminish scholarship itself.”
