Chennai: Chief Minister Vijay on Monday moved a special resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly seeking to ensure that Tamil Thai Vazhthu is sung first at all functions organised by state government departments, educational institutions and public bodies, amid a controversy over the order in which ceremonial songs should be rendered.
Moving the resolution, CM Vijay said Tamil Thai Vazhthu represented the state’s respect for the Tamil language, its culture and heritage. He stressed that preserving the established practice of singing it at the beginning of official functions was important to uphold Tamil Nadu’s cultural identity.
The resolution highlighted Tamil’s status as an ancient classical language and described Tamil civilisation as one of the oldest cultural traditions in the world.
It also traced the history of Tamil Thai Vazhthu and its place in official ceremonies in the state. The song is drawn from ‘Manonmaniam’, written by Manonmaniam Sundaranar in 1891.
CM Vijay said Tamil Thai Vazhthu had been sung at the beginning of government functions for more than five decades, following a government order issued on November 23, 1970. Its status was further strengthened on December 12, 2021, when Tamil Thai Vazhthu was officially declared the state song.
It was subsequently made mandatory at the commencement of functions organised by educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings and other public organisations across Tamil Nadu.
The fresh resolution follows a communication from the Union Home Ministry dated July 1, 2026, setting out the Centre’s position regarding the singing of state songs at official functions.
According to the resolution, the Centre’s prescribed sequence requires the National Song, Vande Mataram, to be rendered first, followed by the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Under such an arrangement, Tamil Thai Vazhthu would be pushed to the end of the ceremonial sequence, triggering objections in Tamil Nadu.
The state government maintained that the long-established convention of beginning official programmes with Tamil Thai Vazhthu should continue without alteration.
Through the resolution, the Vijay government sought the Assembly’s endorsement for retaining Tamil Thai Vazhthu as the opening song at functions conducted by state government departments, educational institutions and other state-controlled organisations, while preserving the established protocol for the National Song and National Anthem.
(IANS)
