The Tamil Nadu government, headed by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, has made Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, the state’s official song, mandatory as the first song to be performed at government functions and official programmes across the state.
Under the directive, the state song must be rendered at the beginning of events organised by educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings and other public organisations in Tamil Nadu.
The order follows a resolution unanimously passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday. Chief Minister Vijay said his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government would not compromise on Tamil Nadu’s linguistic and cultural rights. Several parties, including the opposition DMK and AIADMK, supported the resolution and backed the government’s position that Tamil Thaai Vazhthu should be the first song performed at official functions.
While moving the resolution, Vijay said Tamil was closely associated with the identity and emotions of the people of Tamil Nadu.
“Tamil is not only a language but also our life and emotions. The mother tongue is as pure as one's mother,” he said.
Vijay also maintained that giving precedence to Tamil Thaai Vazhthu was not contrary to India’s unity or constitutional principles.
“Singing the Tamil Thaai Vazhthu is not against the political system or India's unity. On the contrary, it reflects the nation's high principle of unity in diversity. There's no need to make this demand of singing the Tamil Thaai Vazhthu first into a political debate,” he said.
WHAT TAMIL NADU GOVT ORDER SAYS
The latest directive builds upon a government order issued on November 23, 1970, which instructed authorities to have Tamil Thaai Vazhthu sung at the beginning of official programmes.
The song was formally designated as Tamil Nadu’s state song on December 12, 2021, after which its performance before official programmes was made mandatory.
The new order reiterates the requirement and specifically states that Tamil Thaai Vazhthu must be performed first at events organised by government institutions and other organisations covered under the directive.
The Assembly resolution also noted that Tamil Thaai Vazhthu was derived from Manonmaniam, the 1891 play written by Manonmaniam Sundaranar. It also highlighted Tamil’s status as an ancient classical language and the long-standing history of Tamil civilisation.
VIJAY'S MOVE AMID CENTRE'S VANDE MATARAM DIRECTIVE
The Tamil Nadu government’s decision comes amid a recent advisory from the Union Home Ministry asking states and Union Territories to “strictly comply” with its January 28 directive requiring the National Song, Vande Mataram, to be played before the National Anthem at official functions.
The Centre had also issued fresh guidelines requiring the complete six-stanza version of Vande Mataram to be performed.
Months after those guidelines were issued, the full version of Vande Mataram was played at Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony on May 10 before the National Anthem, in accordance with the Home Ministry’s directive.
Speaker J C D Prabhakar, while announcing the unanimous passage of the Assembly resolution, said its implementation did not require approval from any other authority.
“This is an Assembly resolution and the chief minister's voice represents the entire Tamil population,” the Speaker said.
