India’s Got A Central Panel Dedicated To Cow Urine

It was very hard for me not to poke fun, as well as attempt a rational argument, when my father’s colleague casually stated how his cousin undertook ‘urine therapy’ to speed up his healing after treatment for cancer. He proclaimed all the benefits of the entire process, and I bit my tongue, held back giggles and restrained my general look of disdain as I felt my father glaring at me fearing an outburst of ridicule.

India’s obsession with cow urine to treat what ails the mind, body and soul is not a new phenomenon. India’s cow urine industry has been booming over the last few years under the leadership of the BJP government. While many disapprove of consuming any animals urine, there are believers out there that swear by it, and it’s hard to dissuade them otherwise.

“We believe cow is the foundation of our civilisation,” said Sunil Mansinghka of the Nagpur-based Go-Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra, a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) affiliated organisation, in a report by The Hindu regarding his placement on a central panel dedicated to cow urine.

You read that right. In case you missed the news, earlier this year in April the government set up a 19-member panel, headed by Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan, named the National Steering Committee (NSC). Their job is to “evaluate the role of ‘Panchagavya’ — a concoction of cow urine mixed with cow dung, milk, curd and ghee — in four broad areas like medicine, products for agriculture applications, food and nutrition and utility products,” reports the Times of India. They’ll also be looking into the role that cow dung and urine plays in curing diseases and “scientific validation of uniqueness of indigenous cows.” The panel is now set to have their first meet next month.

Named the Scientific Validation and Research on Panchgavya (SVAROP) programme, as per the official circular, prominent scientists like former CSIR Director General R A Mashelkar, the panel also has members from RSS and VHP-linked organisations, with a tenure of three years.

While I can’t claim to have the correct answer regarding the benefits, or lack there off, of consuming any of the aforementioned concoctions, I’m pretty sure that there are more important and pressing matters that such man power and resources can be put to use to. This announcement has come at a time when gau raksha and associated cow vigilantes have become a menace in the country, we’ve got rumours floating about regarding astrologers in OPD’s diagnosing patients and increasing violence against women; it’s hard to believe that we’re in the 21st century.