The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Monday (August 10) unanimously adopted a resolution moved by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay mandating that the ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’, the state anthem, be sung first at the commencement of all programmes in educational institutions, universities, government offices, and other public institutions across the State.
The resolution, passed on the second day of the Budget debate, underscores the TVK government’s firm stance that it “will not compromise” on protecting the song’s respect and rightful first place. Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar recalled that the practice of beginning House proceedings with the Tamil Thai Vazhthu was introduced during the tenure of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
Also read: Make ‘Tamizh Thai Vazhthu’ mandatory through law, says CPM’s K Shanmugam
While the resolution received broad support from opposition parties, political observers criticised it as a distraction from more serious and sensitive issues such as the Cauvery dispute. Meanwhile, the DMK has called for a legal route to address the issue rather than relying solely on a resolution.
Cultural identity
Vijay, while moving the resolution, traced the song’s origins to the prologue of the 1891 play Manonmaniyam by Manonmaniam Sundaranar. He referred to a July 9, 2026, letter from the Union Home Ministry regarding the singing of state songs. He asserted that the tradition of rendering the Tamil Thai Vazhthu first has been followed in Tamil Nadu since the 1970s both by custom and by official orders. “The Tamil Thai Vazhthu is an expression of respect for the Tamil language and Tamil culture,” he said.
Also read: Why the fury over Vande Mataram before Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu at Vijay’s oath-taking
“Based on the linguistic and cultural rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India, and to uphold Tamil Nadu’s cultural identity, this House unanimously resolves that the Tamil Thai Vazhthu must be mandatorily sung first before the commencement of programmes in all educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions in the State.”
Resolution receives broad support
The resolution received broad support. Former Higher Education Minister Kovi Chezhian, speaking for the DMK, seconded it and recalled that DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi first issued the government order requiring the song to be sung first. “When it is suggested that the Tamil Thai Vazhthu should occupy third place, I consider it a humiliation,” Chezhian said, noting that the resolution came after the song was relegated to third position at a recent function at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. He urged that the measure be converted into law for lasting certainty.
Former DMK minister Ragupathy, however, said: “A mere resolution will evaporate. Will it bind the Union government or the Governor? We demand statutory recognition. Bring a bill and pass a law. Otherwise, Governors and others can still push the Tamil Thai Vazhthu to third place. The DMK took a legal route; this government must do the same.”
Also read: Stalin accuses Governor Ravi of insulting office over Assembly speech row
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami declared full support. “We may have a thousand differences in politics, but when it comes to Tamil, we must all speak in one voice. I wholeheartedly support this,” he noted. PMK MLA Sivakumar also backed the resolution and called on the Centre to accept the primacy of the Tamil Thai Vazhthu at all events in the State.
Deviation from sensitive issues
Meanwhile, political observers argue that the TVK government is carefully avoiding high-voltage inter-State disputes such as Cauvery water sharing and the Mekedatu dam project, issues traditionally amplified by the opposition and instead elevating questions of delimitation, equitable fiscal devolution and the Tamil Thai Vazhthu, issues on which no party can easily oppose the government.
Political observer Dhayalan Shanmugam called the resolution an “attention diversion”, questioning its need when a government order already exists. He said the TVK government was focusing on an anti-DMK narrative while downplaying other political players such as Edappadi Palaniswami, Seeman and Anbumani.
Also read: After early confusion, Governor confers all degrees at MSU convocation
Political observer Ilankovan Kanniyappan said identity politics around Tamil Thai Vazhthu was pioneered by the DMK, despite Periyar’s criticism of it. He said Vijay was using such resolutions to project himself as a champion of Tamil Nadu’s rights, contrasting this with the DMK’s changing stand on delimitation. “People admire leaders who fight for Tamil Nadu’s State rights. Vijay is continuously bringing such resolutions to demonstrate that he occupies that space,” Kanniyappan said.
‘Many other ways to encourage Tamil’
Senior journalist T Ramakrishnan, speaking to The Federal, questioned the practical value of the resolution. “If it is to be done genuinely, what will this resolution help with? There is already a government order. What is going to happen with this resolution? This resolution is merely a political opinion of the Tamil Nadu government. There is nothing wrong in passing the resolution. The Central government has brought it as a law in Parliament. We should oppose it only legally,” he said. Ramakrishnan said the TVK was following the same cultural and language politics as the DMK. He argued that the party’s focus on Tamil rhetoric, without meaningful action, amounted to “empty slogans” and said Chief Minister Vijay could simply issue a statement instead of passing such resolutions.
“There are many tasks required to encourage learning in Tamil and to make the language flourish. Leaving those aside, what is there in just bringing a resolution? The DMK government in 2021 issued a standing order; what change is this going to make in that?” he asked.