Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday moved a resolution in the state Assembly to make the rendition of Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, Tamil Nadu’s state song, mandatory at government events.
The resolution received unanimous support in the Assembly, including from legislators belonging to the DMK and AIADMK.
Moving the resolution, Vijay said his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government would not compromise on Tamil Nadu’s linguistic and cultural rights.
“Tamil is not only a language but also our life and emotions,” Vijay said, stressing the cultural importance of the state’s mother tongue.
Tamil Thaai Vazhthu to be mandatory at state events
Under the resolution, Tamil Thaai Vazhthu will be sung at the beginning of programmes organised at educational institutions, universities, government offices and public sector undertakings across Tamil Nadu.
Vijay described the mother tongue as being “as pure as one’s mother” and said giving Tamil its due place was a matter linked to the state’s rights.
The resolution builds on an earlier Tamil Nadu government order issued on November 23, 1970, which required Tamil Thaai Vazhthu to be sung at the beginning of official events.
The song was formally recognised as Tamil Nadu’s state song in December 2021. It was subsequently made compulsory as the first song in the sequence at official functions.
Move comes amid Vande Mataram advisory
The Tamil Thaai Vazhthu resolution comes against the backdrop of a fresh advisory from the Union Home Affairs Ministry asking states and Union Territories to comply with its January 28 directive concerning the playing of Vande Mataram before the National Anthem at official events.
The development has added significance to Tamil Nadu’s decision to reinforce the place of its state song at government functions.
Vijay stresses Tamil Nadu’s linguistic rights
Vijay said Tamil Nadu’s linguistic and cultural identity remained central to his government’s approach.
The unanimous passage of the resolution also marked a rare instance of legislators from different political parties backing a common position on the use of Tamil Thaai Vazhthu at official programmes.
The decision is expected to further institutionalise the state song’s role at government and public-sector events across Tamil Nadu.
