Tamil Thai Vazhthu third in order is no insult, says Vice-President
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan said on Monday that singing the Tamil Nadu state song Tamil Thai Vazhthu after Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana cannot be considered an insult to the state anthem. He was addressing the 11th Convocation of the Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN) at Neelakudi, near Tiruvarur.
Tamil Thai Vazhthu, composed by Manonmaniam Sundaranar, is the state song of Tamil Nadu. Vande Mataram holds the position of the national song, and Jana Gana Mana is the national anthem. The sequence of these songs at government events has been a matter of debate in the state, with political parties often expressing strong views on the issue.
The Vice-President's remarks are significant in this context, as he sought to address the controversy directly. He urged the graduating students to keep the nation first in all their actions. He lamented the tendency to politicise such matters, saying, "But, unfortunately, everything is being politicised in Tamil Nadu. They ask why Tamil Thai Vazhthu is not sung first. They say it is an insult. Can you insult the national song?"
He went on to argue that the placement of the state song does not amount to disrespect. "Who said it is an insult if it is sung third? Can anybody insult their mother? When you cannot insult your mother and cannot insult your mother tongue, you cannot insult your motherland either," he said. He stressed that uniformity in following the prescribed order across the country is essential, adding, "We should not politicise everything."
Mr. Radhakrishnan also recalled the historical significance of Vande Mataram, describing it as "the one word that made the nation a free country." He noted that in Tamil Nadu, freedom fighters such as V.O. Chidambaram Pillai and Subramaniya Siva used the slogan to mobilise people against British rule. He observed that the slogan had served as a unifying force during the independence movement.
The Central University of Tamil Nadu, established by an Act of Parliament in 2009, has grown steadily over the years, offering a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programmes. The university's campus provides a conducive environment for learning and research. The 11th convocation reflected this growth, as a total of 1,103 graduates received their degrees. Of these, 616 were women, indicating a strong presence of female students.
In his address, the Vice-President also cautioned the youth against the dangers of drug abuse. He urged students to stay away from narcotics and called on the police to take "merciless" action against the drug mafia. "Our youngsters' minds should be controlled by themselves and not by anything else," he said, emphasising the need for self-awareness and discipline.
The university awarded gold medals to 50 students for outstanding academic performance. Among the gold medallists, 37 were women, further underscoring the academic achievements of female students. The convocation was attended by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Nagapattinam MP V. Selvaraj, CUTN Chancellor G. Padmanabhan, and Vice-Chancellor (in-charge) Sulochana Shekhar, among others. The ceremony was a proud moment for the graduates and their families.
