Tamil Nadu: Tamil Thaai Vazhthu to lead official events amid Vande Mataram row

The Tamil Nadu government has issued an order making Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, the state song, the first to be played at all official events in the state. The directive, which comes amid a continuing political row over the playing of Vande Mataram, clarifies the sequence of songs at state functions.

According to the order issued by the General Administration Department, Tamil Thaai Vazhthu will be rendered at the beginning of every government function, followed by the national anthem. Vande Mataram, the national song, may be played after these two songs if the organisers choose to include it. The order applies to all state government departments, public sector undertakings, local bodies, and educational institutions under the state government.

The move is the latest development in the ongoing debate over the place of Vande Mataram at public events. The controversy began earlier this year when the Union Education Ministry and other central agencies issued advisories asking schools and universities to sing Vande Mataram periodically. Political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK, objected, arguing that the state song should not be sidelined by directives from the Centre.

State officials said the order was intended to end ambiguity about which song should be played first at official gatherings. Tamil Thaai Vazhthu has been an integral part of state ceremonies since it was adopted as the state song in 1970. The song, written by poet Manonmaniam Sundaranar, is considered a symbol of Tamil cultural identity.

The government has rejected criticism that the order diminishes the importance of Vande Mataram. Officials pointed out that the national song is not banned and can still be played at official events, but only after the state song and the national anthem. They described the directive as a clarification of protocol, not a political statement.

However, the decision has drawn sharp reactions from some political groups and union leaders, who accuse the state government of disrespecting a national symbol. Supporters of the order counter that respecting one's state song is not anti-national and that Tamil Nadu has always honoured the national anthem.

The order also reflects a broader assertion of state identity in India's federal structure. Tamil Nadu has a long history of emphasising its linguistic and cultural heritage, and previous governments have taken similar steps to protect the prominence of Tamil Thaai Vazhthu.

Observers say the real test will be in how the order is implemented across the state's vast administrative machinery. District officials have been instructed to ensure compliance. The state government has also asked event organisers to print the sequence of songs in programme schedules to avoid confusion.

As the controversy continues, the order provides a clear answer for now: in Tamil Nadu, the state song comes first. Whether that settles the debate remains uncertain, but for the time being, official events in the state will begin with the words of Tamil Thaai Vazhthu.