A controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu over the order in which ‘Vande Mataram’, ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’, the Tamil state song, were played during Chief Minister Vijay’s swearing in ceremony. The DMK objected to the sequence, saying the Tamil state song should have been played first to uphold the state’s honour and traditions, but was instead placed third. Responding to the criticism, Vijay’s party, TVK, said the decision regarding the order of the songs was taken by the Governor. However, DMK leader T.K.S. Elangovan said the longstanding tradition in Tamil Nadu has been to play the Tamil state song first and the national anthem at the end. He also alleged that Vijay was moving closer to the BJP’s ideology. At the ceremony, ‘Vande Mataram’ was played first for 2 minutes and 52 seconds, followed by ‘Jana Gana Mana’ for 52 seconds. The Tamil state song was then played for 65 seconds. Allied parties also protested The CPI, CPI(M) and VCK also criticised the Tamil state song being played third during the swearing in ceremony. CPI State Secretary M. Veerapandian said the Tamil state song should receive top priority in the protocol of government events. Vijay’s party won 108 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. His government is supported by the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), IUML and VCK. Meanwhile, the DMK’s IT wing questioned Vijay, asking whether sidelining the Tamil state song was part of TVK’s “new change”. Tamil Nadu’s state song was written in 1891 ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ is the state song of Tamil Nadu. It was written in 1891 by Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai as a hymn to the Tamil goddess in the opening section of his play ‘Manonmaniam’. The song was later set to music by M.S. Viswanathan and is regarded as an important part of Tamil Nadu’s cultural identity. This is why it has traditionally been sung first at government functions in the state. On December 18, 2021, the DMK government officially declared ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ as the state anthem of Tamil Nadu. The government also directed that everyone present must stand as a mark of respect during its rendition. Earlier, the Madras High Court had observed that ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ was a prayer song and not a national or state anthem.
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