Manonmaniam Sundaranar University Graduation Stirs Tamil Mother Song Protest

During the 33rd convocation of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar presided over the ceremony and instructed that the Tamil Mother Song be performed third, after the national anthem and before the concluding segment. The directive caused the event to be delayed by about an hour as officials and attendees debated the change.

Political parties, including the DMK, CPI, and other regional groups, publicly condemned the alteration, calling it a violation of tradition and an affront to Tamil cultural identity. The controversy sparked broader discussion about the ordering of state songs at official functions and the role of the governor in enforcing such protocols.