Chennai, Aug 10:
Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday adopted an unanimous resolution that Tamil Thai Vazhthu (invocation to Mother Tamil), which is an expression of respect for the Tamil language and Tamil culture, should be mandatorily sung first before the commencement of programmes in all government events, a long standing tradition followed in the State since Novemebr 1970 and subsequently being accorded the State song status in December 2021.
The resolution was adopted in accordance with the linguistic and cultural rights guaranteed by the Constitution and with a view to preserving the cultural identity of Tamil Nadu.
The resolution moved by Chief Minister making mandatory singing of the invocation to Mother Tamil first in all educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings and other pubic institutions in Tamil Nadu, was adopted unanimously by voice vote, with the support of all parties.
The key resolution was adopted in the backdrop of the State song being relegated to third spot after Vande Mataram and National Anthem in events being attended by the Tamil Nadu Governor, including at the swearing in ceremony of the Vijay government, triggering objections from various political parties, who had termed it as a insult to the Tamil invocation song, and in the wake of the Union government recently making certain observations regarding singing of the State Song.
“This House proudly records that Tamil is one of the world’s most ancient classical languages and that Tamil civilisation represents one of the oldest cultural traditions of the world. “Tamil Thai Vazhthu”, the invocation to Mother Tamol, taken from the play ‘Manonmaniam’ written by Manonmaniam Sundaranar in 1891, has been brought into practice through a Government Order stipulating that it should be sung first at Government functions with effect from November 23, 1970″, Vijay said.
Subsequently with effect from December 12, 2021, it was officially accorded recognition as the State song, and that it was ordered that “Tamil Thai Vazhthu” shall be mandatorily sung before the commencement of the programme held by all educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings and other pubic institutions in Tamil Nadu, he pointed out.
In this context, the Union Ministry of ome Affairs, in its letter dated July 9, 2026, has made certain observations regarding the signing of the State Song. In Tamil Nadu, the practice of singing “Tamil Thai Vazhthu” first in all government functions and educational institutions has been followed since the 1970s, both as a long standing tradition and in accordance with the Government Orders.
“Therefore this House emphasises that “Tamil Thai Vazhthu” is an expression of respect for the Tamil language and Tamil culture. In accordance with the linguistic and cultural rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India and with a view to preserving the cultural identity of Tamil Nadu, the TN Legislative Assembly unanimously resolves that “Tamil Thai Vazhthu” shall be mandatorily sung first before the commencement of programmes held by all educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions in Tamil Nadu”, the Chief Minister said.
After leaders of various parties, including former Minister Kovai Chezhiyan (DMK), AIADMK Legislature Party leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, Higher Education Minister P.Viswanathan (Congress), Social Justice Minister Vanniarasu (VCK), Minister for Minorities Welfare A. M. Shahjahan (IUML), and those from PMK, CPI, CPI-M and DMDK, spoke on the resolution and pledged their full support, Speaker JCD.Prabhakar said it was adopted unanimously by voice vote.