The song, ‘Tamil Thai Vazhathu’, is an invocation sung in praise of the Tamil mother. (Representative)
Chennai:
The Tamil Nadu government today declared the song ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ as the state anthem and said it would be sung at all public functions in educational institutions and government offices.
The order states that the national anthem will be sung at the beginning of all public programs held in schools, colleges, universities and government offices.
The Tamil Nadu government said that everyone, except the handicapped, has to stand when it is played or sung.
Chief Minister MK Stalin said that a government order has been issued to this effect, which states that everyone, except the handicapped, should stand when a 55-second long song is sung.
The song, ‘Tamil Thai Vazhathu’, is an invocation sung in praise of the Tamil mother.
The government’s direction comes after the Madras High Court’s recent observation, in a separate case, that ‘Tamil Thai Vazhathu’ is only a prayer song. The court had held that there was no executive order requiring those present at public events to stand during the song. In its judgment, the court held that ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ is not a national anthem and therefore, when it is sung, not everyone is required to stand.
The issue came into limelight after IIT-Madras did not sing a song during the convocation this year. The Higher Education Minister of Tamil Nadu had written a letter in this regard to the director of the institute.
Article 51A (a) of the Constitution states that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to respect the National Flag and the National Anthem.
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