NEW DELHI: The swearing-in ceremony of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thalapathy Vijay has sparked controversy after the state song, “Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu,” was played after both the National Song “Vande Mataram” and the National Anthem. This departure from established protocol, which traditionally has government events in Tamil Nadu commence with the state song and conclude with the National Anthem, has drawn criticism from various political groups.
Communist Party of India (CPI), one of the supporters of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) coalition, strongly condemned the order of song presentations. CPI state secretary M. Veerapandiyan stated in a letter that relegating “Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu” to third place violated longstanding conventions in the state. “The Tamil Nadu government must explain this lapse to the public. Such an error must not be allowed to continue,” he wrote. Veerapandiyan emphasized the historical significance of the song, which had been recognized during India’s freedom struggle for its cultural relevance.
Further complicating the issue, recent actions from the Union Cabinet have sought to elevate “Vande Mataram” to a status equal to that of the national anthem under amendments to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act. This change implies that any insults or obstructions related to “Vande Mataram” could incur penalties similar to those established for the National Anthem, the national flag, and the Constitution.
Faced with rising discontent, TVK quickly distanced itself from the choice of song order. Minister Aadhav Arjuna reiterated the party’s support for maintaining the traditional precedence of the Tamil song. He asserted, “It is this very proud Tamil invocation song that is played first at events in Tamil Nadu… That is the usual practice.”
At the ceremony, which was presided over by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, “Vande Mataram” was performed first, followed by the National Anthem and then “Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu.” Minister Arjuna indicated that future events would revert to the customary order, with the Tamil invocation song played first, reaffirming the cultural significance of Tamil in the state’s official ceremonies.
Additionally, this controversy may signal a political message directed towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), particularly in response to recent directives from the Union Ministry that mandate playing the full version of “Vande Mataram” at government events. Observers noted that the same regulations did not apply at the recent swearing-in of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, which included prominent attendees such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others, highlighting the ongoing political tensions between state and central authorities regarding cultural representation.
