Tamil Nadu state song must be sung at IIT Madras, writes minister: Report

Tamil Nadu higher education minister, K Ponmudy, has written to the director of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras asking him to ensure that the state song, Tamil thai vazhthu, is sung at every function, the Times of India has reported.

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"It is disheartening to learn that in the recently-concluded convocation, the state invocation song was not sung, a deviation from a well-established protocol. I would like to point out that the invocation song is sung at all the state and union government functions in Tamil Nadu including the functions where higher dignitaries like the President of India and the Prime Minister participate," Ponmudy wrote in his letter, as quoted by TOI.

According to the report, the minister also reminded the director, Bhaskar Ramamurthi, that IIT Madras was built on land extended by the Tamil Nadu government.

"As you are aware, IIT-Madras was established in 1959 on an extent of 250 hectares of land provided by the Tamil Nadu government. From that time onwards, the state government has been contributing through various means for the growth and development of the institution, and the present government is also very keen on continuing the same support," Ponmudy wrote.

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IIT-Madras conducted its 58th convocation in virtual mode on November 20, 2021. As many as 2,425 degrees (including joint and dual degrees) were awarded to students on the occasion. 392 PhDs, joint degree PhDs with foreign institutions and dual degree PhDs were awarded. This is the highest number of PhDs awarded in an academic year.

IIT Madras: 'Tamil thai vazhthu', the state invocation song has to be sung at all the functions of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras including convocations, K Ponmudy, the higher education minister, Tamil Nadu has written to Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT Madras, reported the Times of India.