
In a column, the writer argues for a National Science Mission to scientifically test the medicinal properties of cow urine. They claim that verifying these properties through modern science could help India…
In a column, the writer argues for a National Science Mission to scientifically test the medicinal properties of cow urine. They claim that verifying these properties through modern science could help India achieve Vishwaguru status, while a lack of proof would not diminish its cultural significance for devotees.
The writer contrasts this with subjective disputes, noting that questions of faith, such as whether a cow is a mother, are not resolvable by fact. They also point out that beliefs in holy substances exist across religions, citing the Christian Eucharist as an example.
The argument for testing cow urine scientifically is reasonable, but the framing reveals a familiar pattern: demanding extraordinary proof for traditional practices while expecting everyone to accept the cultural claims as valid no matter what. The Vishwaguru prize dangled for a positive result is pure speculation. The real test here is not of cow urine but of institutional courage, will a government body actually fund and publish a study whose null hypothesis is that the stuff is just urine?
Source: thehindu.com
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