21 Tamil Nadu MPs urge Governor to reinstate state anthem at events

The Story in Brief

Twenty-one Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu wrote on 5 August to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar seeking a clear protocol for anthems at official and university events. They requested that the state song, Tamizh Thai Vaazhthu, be performed at the start of programmes and that the National Anthem be played at the conclusion. The representation followed the 33rd convocation of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli on 28 July, where, according to the MPs, the ceremony began with Vande Mataram, followed by the National Anthem and Tamizh Thai Vaazhthu rendered third.

The MPs noted Tamizh Thai Vaazhthu was declared the state’s official song in 2021 and has featured in public functions in Tamil Nadu for more than five decades. They said placing it after the other two songs was perceived by many as “an unintended slight” to the people of Tamil Nadu and to Manonmaniam Sundaranar Pillai, the composer of Neeraarum Kadaludutha, after whom the university is named. The letter was signed by P Chidambaram, Karti Chidambaram, B Manickam Tagore, Thol Thirumavalavan, Durai Vaiko and 16 other MPs; Raj Bhavan has not responded.

The Indian Opinion

The MPs’ request presents as a call for consistent ceremonial practice and administrative clarity rather than an explicit political attack; they described it as “not as a complaint, but as a respectful request.” The article records the MPs’ account that instructions from Raj Bhavan led to the order at the university, but it does not include a response from Raj Bhavan, so the claim about who issued instructions remains unverified. Coverage that treats the sequence as a deliberate slight risks amplifying grievance, while dismissing repeated concerns may overlook local sentiment. A clear, published protocol would help settle practice and reduce perceptions of disrespect without assuming intent.

Original article: 21 Tamil Nadu MPs write to Governor to restore state anthem as first song at events (www.indiatoday.in)

This story was summarised and commented on by AI from the source linked above.