Over 215 vice chancellors, former vice chancellors and academics have voiced support for IIT Madras Director Professor V Kamakoti after Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reportedly called him a cow urine expert in a Lok Sabha debate on exam reforms. The signatories described the comment as undermining academic discussion and the standing of India’s scientific bodies.
The open letter stated that the remark extends beyond personal criticism and raises wider questions about respect for researchers and institutions. It urged Parliament to serve as a venue for rigorous debate conducted with dignity, noting that sarcasm or rhetoric of this kind affects more than one person.
The letter outlined Professor Kamakoti’s record, including master’s and doctoral degrees in computer science and engineering from IIT Madras, authorship of more than 150 research papers, oversight of over 50 research projects, and receipt of awards such as the DRDO Academic Excellence Award and the Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association Techno Visionary Award. It also cited his involvement in creating India’s first industry-grade microprocessor.
The signatories maintained that academics may present ideas and examine traditional knowledge. They argued that labeling a scholar instead of addressing the content of views weakens the scientific approach encouraged by the Constitution. They added that scientific temper involves objective review of claims and that past ideas once rejected have later gained validation. The letter warned that such remarks could discourage researchers from joining public debate and stressed that scholarship should not be belittled even when arguments are contested. It concluded that disagreement belongs in democracy but mockery cannot replace reasoned exchange.
