The Tamil Nadu Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution requiring that the state song, ‘Tamil Thai Vazthu’, be sung at the start of all government events. This decision underscores the significance of the song in promoting Tamil culture and identity during official functions.
In an emotive speech in Assembly today, Vijay asserted that his government will not compromise on the state’s linguistic and cultural rights. The resolution mandates that the state song must be sung first at the beginning of events at educational institutions, universities, government offices, and public sector undertakings in Tamil Nadu. In January, the Union Home Ministry had issued a directive to play the national song first and then the national anthem at government events. Ever since, it had become a tradition for it to be played first at official programmes. A controversy had erupted in May after the Tamil song was played third in the sequence, following the national song and the national anthem, at a university programme.
The ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ song was made mandatory at government events in Tamil Nadu back in 1970. Later, in 2021, it was recognised as a state song.
“Tamil is not only a language but also our lifeline and emotions,” he stressed, underlining that the mother tongue is as pure as motherhood. In an advisory in July, the government asked states to “strictly comply” with that directive.
