TN Assembly unanimously passes resolution giving ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ pride of place

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a special resolution moved by Chief Minister Vijay to ensure that ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ is sung first at functions organised by government departments, educational institutions and other state-run bodies.

Cutting across political lines, members of the ruling and Opposition parties backed the resolution, which was adopted by a voice vote.

The DMK, AIADMK, Congress, PMK, VCK, CPI, BJP and Indian Union Muslim League were among the parties that expressed their support.

Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar declared the resolution unanimously passed after representatives of the parties spoke in its favour.

Moving the resolution, CM Vijay said Tamil was inseparable from the identity, culture and emotions of the people of the state. Ensuring that Tamil Thai Vazhthu receives precedence at official events, he said, was a question of protecting Tamil Nadu’s cultural traditions and rights.

The Chief Minister recalled that the song, drawn from ‘Manonmaniam’ written by Manonmaniam Sundaranar, has been sung at the beginning of government functions since a government order was issued in 1970. It was formally accorded the status of Tamil Nadu’s State song in 2021.

CM Vijay also referred to a communication issued by the Union Home Ministry on July 1, 2026, concerning state songs. He appealed to legislators to approach the issue beyond party affiliations and said the status of Tamil Thai Vazhthu should not become a matter of political controversy.

DMK MLA Govi Chezhian, speaking for his party, recalled that former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had introduced the practice of singing Tamil Thai Vazhthu at official functions through a government order.

Chezhian also pointed out that the then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin issued an order on December 17, 2021, making the rendition of the song mandatory. He said providing stronger legal protection to the practice would ensure its status could not be altered in the future.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami also announced his party’s support. He described Tamil Thai Vazhthu as more than a ceremonial song, saying it represented Tamil language, culture and identity.

Palaniswami also stressed that pride in Tamil and patriotism were complementary rather than conflicting sentiments.

With every party represented in the House supporting the proposal, the Assembly adopted the resolution unanimously, reaffirming the primacy of Tamil Thai Vazhthu at state government and educational functions.

IANS