TAMIL NADU, (India): The Tamil Nadu Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution making Tamil Thai Vazhthu the first song to be sung at government events, educational institutions and other public functions across the state.
The move reinforces an existing practice and places the State Song at the centre of official functions in Tamil Nadu.
Assembly backs Tamil Thai Vazhthu
The resolution was passed on Aug 10 with the support of the ruling DMK, AIADMK and Congress.
It says Tamil Thai Vazhthu, the invocation to Mother Tamil, should receive the highest priority at public programmes in the state.
Moving the resolution, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said giving the song the first place was a matter of Tamil Nadu’s state rights.
"Tamil means pride, Tamil means power," Vijay said, stressing that the song should hold the first place at state functions.
He also thanked political parties for supporting the resolution unanimously and said the decision reflected the importance of Tamil language, culture and civilisation.
A practice dating back to 1970
The resolution does not create an entirely new practice. It reaffirms a government order issued on Nov 23, 1970, which directed that Tamil Thai Vazhthu be sung first at government functions.
The song traces its origins to Manonmaniam, a play written in 1891 by scholar Manonmaniam Sundaranar.
In December 2021, Tamil Thai Vazhthu was officially given the status of Tamil Nadu’s State Song.
Its singing was made mandatory before programmes held at educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions in the state.
The song is widely treated as a symbol of respect for the Tamil language and its long cultural heritage.
Resolution follows Centre’s letter
The latest decision also comes against the backdrop of observations made by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in a July 9 letter concerning the singing of the State Song.
The communication included guidance on the sequencing of songs and made a reference to Vande Mataram. The issue has since become part of a wider discussion over the place of Tamil Nadu’s State Song at official functions.
Against this background, the state resolution reiterates Tamil Thai Vazhthu’s priority at public events.
Vijay calls it a tribute to Tamil
Welcoming the unanimous support, Vijay said the decision showed how deeply Tamil language and identity are connected with the state.
He described Tamil as “a thought-culture-civilisation” and said it was also a matter of life and emotion for the people of Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister called the resolution “the highest tribute offered to Mother Tamil” and said the day it was passed would remain part of the state’s history.
Actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan, who heads Makkal Needhi Maiam, also welcomed the Assembly’s decision.
Reacting on X, Haasan called the resolution “heartening and commendable”. He said the move showed that the state was standing firm on its rights and cultural identity.
He wrote that the Assembly’s decision to ensure Tamil Thai Vazhthu is sung first at government events was welcome and added that “this trend of not yielding state rights must continue.” - The Statesman/ANN
