Tamil Nadu mandates state song at all government programmes

The Tamil Nadu government has issued a Government Order (GO) making the singing of ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ mandatory at the start of all official programmes. This mandate applies to educational institutions, government offices, universities, and public sector undertakings across the state.

The order follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, which was moved by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. The government stated that the move is intended to uphold the cultural identity of Tamil Nadu and ensure the state song receives due recognition.

The song, taken from the prologue of the 1891 play ‘Manonmaniam’ by Manonmaniam Sundaranar, has historical precedents for use in official functions dating back to 1970 and 2021. The resolution emphasizes that the song is an expression of respect for the Tamil language and culture.