The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a government resolution making the rendition of Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, the state song, mandatory at the beginning of official programmes across the state.

The resolution, moved by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, extends the requirement to government offices, educational institutions, state-run bodies and other public establishments. The move received support from ruling and opposition parties, including the DMK, AIADMK and Congress.

The decision comes amid a wider debate over protocol at official functions and the place of Tamil language and cultural symbols in public life.

CM Vijay Highlights Tamil Identity

Chief Minister Vijay said the decision was aimed at preserving Tamil Nadu's linguistic and cultural identity and should not be viewed through a political lens.

Addressing the Assembly, he said Tamil represents more than a means of communication for the people of the state, describing it as closely connected with their identity, emotions and sense of pride.

Vijay also appealed to political parties to keep the issue above partisan differences. According to the Chief Minister, giving the state song a formal place at public programmes should be seen as a cultural matter rather than a political contest.

The unanimous passage of the resolution means the government and opposition have backed the formal expansion of the song's use across state institutions.

Institutions Covered Under Resolution

The resolution provides for Tamil Thaai Vazhthu to be rendered at the beginning of official programmes conducted by a broad range of government and publicly funded institutions.

These include state government departments and offices, schools, colleges, universities and technical education institutions. Municipal bodies and other local government establishments will also come under the arrangement.

State public sector undertakings and autonomous institutions functioning under the government are also covered.

The measure is intended to bring greater uniformity to the use of the state song during official events.

History of Tamil Thaai Vazhthu

Tamil Thaai Vazhthu is an invocation dedicated to Mother Tamil. The song was written by poet and playwright Manonmaniam Sundaranar in 1891.

Its use at government functions in Tamil Nadu dates back several decades. The state government issued an order on November 23, 1970, providing for the song to be played at official events.

The song was subsequently formally designated as Tamil Nadu's state anthem in December 2021.

Monday's resolution further strengthens its institutional status by making its rendition part of official programmes conducted by state institutions.

Political Parties Back Move

The resolution received unanimous support in the Assembly, including from opposition parties.

The backing from multiple political parties is significant because questions involving language and cultural identity have historically played an important role in Tamil Nadu's political discourse.

The Chief Minister's appeal to keep the issue away from political differences also underlined the government's attempt to present the measure as a broader cultural decision.

Comes Amid Protocol Debate

The resolution comes at a time when questions over protocol at public functions have attracted attention.

A recent advisory from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on following prescribed national protocol at public events has added to the backdrop against which Tamil Nadu's decision has been taken.

The state government's resolution, however, specifically focuses on the use of Tamil Thaai Vazhthu at programmes conducted by institutions under the state administration.

With the Assembly now having unanimously approved the proposal, the song is set to have a more clearly defined place at official functions across Tamil Nadu.

The move also reflects the continuing importance attached to Tamil language and cultural identity in the state's public institutions, while the government has stressed that the initiative should remain separate from political differences.