Tamil Nadu Assembly mandates Thaai Vazhthu at educational institutions, govt offices

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on August 10 moved a government resolution in the Assembly mandating rendition of Tamil Thaai Vazhthu at the commencement of programmes in educational institutions and universities across the state. The resolution states that the Tamil Nadu state song should be sung at the beginning of programmes conducted at educational institutions, universities, government offices and public sector undertakings.

Piloting the resolution, Vijay said Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government would not compromise on Tamil Nadu's linguistic and cultural rights. In his speech, he said Tamil was not only a language but also "life and emotions", and stressed that the mother tongue was as pure as one's mother.

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Tamil Thaai Vazhthu History

The move comes against 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 that Vande Mataram, the National Song, be played before the National Anthem at official events.

PTI reports that the Tamil Nadu government had earlier issued an order on November 23, 1970, directing that Tamil Thaai Vazhthu be sung at the beginning of official events. The state government officially recognised it as the state song on December 12, 2021, making its rendition compulsory as the first song in the sequence at official functions.

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With recent resolution, the state has specifically reiterated the requirement for the song at programmes held in educational institutions and universities, bringing the issue of the rendition of the state song into the education space.

The resolution also comes as the Tamil Nadu government continues to emphasise the state's linguistic and cultural rights, with the Chief Minister stating that his government would not compromise on them.

(With PTI inputs)