Tamil First, Vande Mataram Next? Why Vijay Wants The State Song To Be Sung First
News explainers Tamil First, Vande Mataram Next? Why Vijay Wants The State Song To Be Sung First Tamil First, Vande Mataram Next? Why Vijay Wants
News explainers Tamil First, Vande Mataram Next? Why Vijay Wants The State Song To Be Sung First Tamil First, Vande Mataram Next? Why Vijay Wants The State Song To Be Sung First Written By, Last Updated: August 10, 2026, 13:41 IST Vijay’s move to make Tamil Thaai Vazhthu the first song at official events puts Tamil identity, state autonomy and the Centre’s Vande Mataram protocol in focus Rapid Read CM Vijay argued that giving the state song the first place is a matter of Tamil Nadu's linguistic and cultural rights. (X) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has decided to put the state’s cultural identity front and centre, quite literally. The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution making Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, the state song, mandatory as the first item at official events across the state. The resolution applies to functions organised by educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions. However, the move is about more than the order in which songs are played. It comes amid a growing dispute over the precedence of Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, Vande Mataram and the national anthem, turning what was once a ceremonial protocol into a larger debate over Tamil identity, linguistic rights and the Centre-state relationship. What Did Vijay Say? The resolution moved by Vijay says Tamil Thaai Vazhthu must be sung before the commencement of official programmes in Tamil Nadu. ALSO READ | Rajya Sabha Clears Bill That Can Land You In Jail For Insulting Vande Mataram | Here’s What We Know Vijay argued that giving the state song the first place is a matter of Tamil Nadu’s linguistic and cultural rights. “Tamil means pride, Tamil means power," Vijay said in the Assembly, arguing that Tamil Thaai Vazhthu must hold the first place in the state. The resolution received support across the political spectrum, including the DMK and AIADMK, and was passed unanimously. Why Now? The immediate trigger is a controversy over the sequencing of songs at official functions.
Tamil Nadu has followed a longstanding practice of playing or singing Tamil Thaai Vazhthu at the beginning of official events. The state first directed that it be sung at the start of official functions through a government order in 1970. It was formally recognised as Tamil Nadu’s state song in 2021. But the issue resurfaced after Tamil Thaai Vazhthu was placed third at a university convocation, after Vande Mataram and the national anthem. The episode triggered criticism from political parties in Tamil Nadu, with concerns that the state song’s traditional precedence had been diluted. ALSO READ | Fresh Row Over Vande Mataram Singing At Tamil Nadu Cabinet Expansion, BJP Cites ‘ Protocol’ The controversy gained another political dimension when Tamil Thaai Vazhthu was again placed third during the swearing-in of Vijay’s ministers, according to reports. Where Does Vande Mataram Come In? This is the crucial part of the story. In January this year, the Union government directed that Vande Mataram be played before the national anthem at official events. A communication from the Union Home Ministry in July asked states and Union Territories to strictly comply with the directive. That creates a potential clash with Tamil Nadu’s established practice. The question is therefore not simply which song should be played, but where the state song fits into the sequence prescribed for official events. Is Vijay Challenging The Centre? Politically, the move is being seen as a pushback against what Tamil Nadu perceives as an attempt to impose a uniform ceremonial protocol from New Delhi. ALSO READ | Vande Mataram Row In Tamil Nadu & Bengal: Why Parties Are Fighting Over India’s ‘Political Playlist’ Vijay has explicitly framed the issue in terms of linguistic and cultural rights, saying his government will not compromise on Tamil Nadu’s identity. The resolution itself invokes the constitutional protection of linguistic and cultural rights and describes Tamil Thaai Vazhthu as an expression of respect for Tamil language and culture. That makes the issue politically larger than a song-order dispute.
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