Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday moved a resolution in the state assembly making the rendition of Tamil Thai Vazhthu, the state song, mandatory at the beginning of official programmes across the state, Times of India reported.
Moving the resolution, Vijay said his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government would not compromise on Tamil Nadu’s linguistic and cultural rights and urged legislators to put aside political differences to support the measure.
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“Our mother tongue is as pure as our mother,” Vijay said in an emotive speech, adding that, “Tamil is not only a language but also our life and emotions.”
“Tamil means pride, Tamil means power. The moment you say 'Tamil', the entire Tamil Nadu will come together and stand as one,” he said.
The chief minister said Tamil Thai Vazhthu should occupy the foremost place at official functions in the state.
“Tamil Thai Vazhthu must hold the first place in Tamil Nadu. Giving first place to Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu is our state right,” he said.
“Saying that Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be sung first does not need to become a political debate,” Vijay said, appealing to legislators across party lines to back the resolution.
Under the resolution, Tamil Thai Vazhthu will be sung first at programmes organised by educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions across Tamil Nadu.
The resolution received support from both DMK and AIADMK legislators, with members backing the government's move to mandate the state song at official functions.
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The move comes amid a recent advisory from the Union home ministry asking states and Union territories to comply with its January 28 directive on playing Vande Mataram before the National Anthem at official events. It also follows a July 9 communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs concerning the singing of state songs at official programmes.
What the resolution says
The resolution describes Tamil Thai Vazhthu as an expression of respect for the Tamil language and culture and links its mandatory rendition to the linguistic and cultural rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
“Therefore, this House ( Tamil Nadu Assembly ) emphasises that 'Tamil Thai Vazhthu' is an expression of respect for the Tamil language and Tamil culture. In accordance with the linguistic and cultural rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India, and with a view to preserving the Cultural identity of Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly unanimously resolves that "Tamil Thai Vazhthu" shall be mandatorily sung first, before the commencement of programmes held by all Educational Institutions, Universities, Government Offices, Public Sector Undertakings and other Public Institutions in Tamil Nadu,” the resolution said.
It also notes that Tamil is one of the world’s oldest classical languages and describes Tamil civilisation as one of the world’s oldest cultural traditions.
Tamil Nadu had first directed that Tamil Thai Vazhthu be sung at the beginning of official functions through a government order issued on November 23, 1970.
The state government formally accorded the song the status of the state song on December 12, 2021, making its rendition mandatory at official programmes and institutions across the state.
Tamil Thai Vazhthu is an invocation to Mother Tamil from Manonmaniam, a play written by Manonmaniam Sundaranar in 1891 (With inputs from Times of India).
