‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ Played Third at Vijay’s Swearing-in, CPI Raises Objection Over Song Order
‘Vande Mataram’ Before Tamil Song
A fresh controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu over the order in which songs were played at Joseph Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony as Chief Minister. CPI state secretary M. Veerapandiyan said on Sunday that ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ — the state song of Tamil Nadu — should be given the first position in the protocol at all government functions.
In a letter issued after the swearing-in ceremony of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, Veerapandiyan raised objections over the sequence in which songs were played during the event. The ceremony began with the national song ‘Vande Mataram’, followed by the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’, while ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ was played third.
Key Facts
- Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and a controversy broke out immediately after the ceremony over the order of songs played.
- ‘Vande Mataram’ was played first, ‘Jana Gana Mana’ second, and ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ was placed third.
- CPI state secretary M. Veerapandiyan objected to this sequence in a letter, calling it a violation of Tamil Nadu’s established tradition.
- Tamil Nadu’s tradition, according to Veerapandiyan, is to begin government functions with ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ and end with the national anthem.
- Veerapandiyan demanded that Tamil Nadu government explain who was responsible for this lapse.
- He said ‘Vande Mataram’ was never accepted as the national anthem because it was dedicated to a specific deity and had a communal-religious character.
Veerapandiyan Raises Questions in Letter
The CPI leader said that the order of the songs was a violation of established tradition. In his letter, Veerapandiyan wrote that giving priority to ‘Vande Mataram’ and placing the Tamil song in third position — as was done in the swearing-in ceremony organised by the Tamil Nadu government per Raj Bhavan’s instructions — was a breach of established practice.
He said the Tamil Nadu government should tell the public who was responsible for this lapse. The TVK, he said, should ensure that ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ is given priority.
‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ Should Be Played First — Veerapandiyan
He wrote that such a mistake should not be allowed to continue. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and the Protem Speaker should ensure that in tomorrow’s Assembly session — convened for the swearing-in of MLAs — as well as in all government events and functions, ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ is played first and the national anthem is played at the end.
Veerapandiyan also alleged that this issue has historical and ideological implications. He said it was decided during the independence struggle itself that ‘Vande Mataram’ could not be acceptable as the national anthem, because the song was dedicated to a specific deity and had a communal-religious character.
The controversy began during Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony, which saw a large crowd and was attended by several prominent political leaders.
FAQ
Q: Why did CPI object to the song order at Vijay’s swearing-in?
A: CPI’s state secretary Veerapandiyan said the tradition in Tamil Nadu is to start government events with ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ and end with the national anthem. At Vijay’s ceremony, ‘Vande Mataram’ was played first and the Tamil state song was pushed to third place. He called it a clear violation of what’s been the norm for decades and demanded an explanation from the government.
Q: What is ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ and why does it matter?
A: ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ is the official state song of Tamil Nadu — it’s a devotional tribute to the Tamil language, often referred to as “Tamil mother.” It holds deep cultural importance for Tamil people, and by tradition, it’s supposed to open all official state government functions. Moving it down the order felt like a slight to Tamil pride, which is why it stirred up controversy so quickly.
Q: Why does Veerapandiyan object to ‘Vande Mataram’ being played first?
A: He says it was decided during India’s freedom movement that ‘Vande Mataram’ couldn’t work as the national anthem because it is dedicated to a specific Hindu deity and carries a communal-religious tone. For Tamil Nadu, which has a strong tradition of social reform and secularism, giving ‘Vande Mataram’ the top spot over the state song doesn’t sit right with many people politically.
Q: Who was responsible for the song order at the ceremony?
A: That’s exactly what Veerapandiyan is asking. He wrote that the ceremony was organised per the Raj Bhavan’s instructions, and he’s demanding that the Tamil Nadu government publicly explain who made the call to put ‘Vande Mataram’ first. He wants TVK — Vijay’s party — to take responsibility and fix this going forward.
Q: Will this change anything for future government events in Tamil Nadu?
A: Veerapandiyan is calling on Chief Minister Vijay and the Protem Speaker to make sure the correct order is followed from the very next Assembly session. So it looks like this will be corrected going forward. Whether it leads to any formal protocol being issued in writing is something to watch — but the political pressure to fix it is already there.
