Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution mandating that the state anthem, “Tamil Thaai Vazhthu,” must be rendered first at the commencement of all official government events, educational institution functions, and public sector programs across the state. Piloted by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, the resolution received full cross-party endorsement, including support from the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
Introducing the motion, Chief Minister Vijay affirmed that his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government would remain steadfast in safeguarding Tamil Nadu’s linguistic and cultural rights. He emphasized that prioritizing the state anthem reflects the nation’s broader democratic framework of unity in diversity, stating that the mother tongue represents the life and identity of the people. The legislative action comes amidst recent advisories issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs regarding national and state song protocols at official functions.
The resolution traces the historical background of the invocation—composed from Manonmaniam Sundaranar’s 1891 play—reaffirming its mandatory status initially issued via government orders in November 1970 and formally designated as the official state song in December 2021. Following the unanimous vote, Speaker J. C. D. Prabhakar stated that the resolution stands fully enacted, reflecting the collective decision of the entire House.
