TN Assembly Passes Resolution Mandating Tamil Thaai Vazhthu First at Official Events
The Tamil Nadu Assembly in Chennai on Monday unanimously passed a resolution mandating the rendition of Tamil Thaai Vazhthu at the commencement of all government events across the state. Piloted by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, the resolution received support from several legislative parties, including opposition groups DMK and AIADMK, endorsing the stance that the state song must be sung first in the sequence of songs played at official functions.
Moving the resolution in the Assembly, Chief Minister Vijay stated that his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government would not compromise on the linguistic and cultural rights of Tamil Nadu. He told the House that Tamil is not only a language but also life and emotions, emphasizing that one's mother tongue is as pure as one's mother.
Addressing the Assembly, Vijay noted that singing the Tamil Thaai Vazhthu is not against the political system or India's unity, but rather reflects the nation's high principle of unity in diversity. He urged that the requirement to sing the state song first should not be turned into a political debate.
Under the resolution, the state song must be sung at the commencement of programmes conducted at educational institutions, universities, government offices, and public sector undertakings throughout Tamil Nadu. The resolution records that the state government previously issued an order on November 23, 1970, requiring Tamil Thaai Vazhthu to be sung at the start of official events, and officially recognized it as the state song on December 12, 2021.
The legislative action comes in the backdrop of a recent advisory from the Union Home Affairs 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 events.
The Assembly resolution noted that Tamil is an ancient classical language and Tamil civilization is among the oldest cultural traditions in the world. The text of Tamil Thaai Vazhthu is taken from the play 'Manonmaniam', written in 1891 by Manonmaniam Sundaranar.
Announcing the unanimous passage of the resolution, Speaker J C D Prabhakar informed the House that its implementation required no permission from anyone, adding that the Assembly resolution and the Chief Minister's voice represent the entire Tamil population.
