Vande Mataram and Tamil Thai Vazhthu protocol explained
The Madras High Court updated its Independence Day program to include Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the start after concerns. Tamil Nadu had already formalized Tamil Thai Vazhthu as the state song and issued orders aligning public functions to render it first.
Key takeaways
- Tamil Nadu designated Tamil Thai Vazhthu as the first song at government and public-function events.
- The Madras High Court adjusted its Independence Day program to start with Tamil Thai Vazhthu after objections.
- Centre guidance on song sequencing distinguishes the order of Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana but does not require a state song to be last.
What Happened
The Madras High Court adjusted its Independence Day program to begin with Tamil Thai Vazhthu following objections from the Madurai Bench Bar Association about its omission from the court’s prior circular. This development follows a sequence of actions in Tamil Nadu where the state’s Assembly had passed a resolution designating Tamil Thai Vazhthu as the first song at state functions, and the government issued a corresponding order. The Union Centre has issued guidelines on the order of rendering Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana, but those guidelines do not mandate a state song to be placed after the two national songs. In Tamil Nadu, the state protocol maintains Tamil Thai Vazhthu as the opening song for functions covered by the state protocol, and this was reinforced by a government order.
The sequence of songs at various public functions has become a point of contention, especially when the order of Vande Mataram, Jana Gana Mana, and Tamil Thai Vazhthu diverges from established practice. Notably, Tamil Thai Vazhthu was formally declared the state song in December 2021, and the state has historically rendered it at the start of state government functions. In recent public events, including a swearing-in ceremony and a university convocation, Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana were rendered before Tamil Thai Vazhthu, triggering renewed debate about the correct protocol. The Assembly’s August resolution and the subsequent government order in August reaffirm Tamil Thai Vazhthu’s position as the first song at covered functions and lay out the standing guidelines for its performance.
Why It Matters
The dispute centers on the ceremonial hierarchy of the national and state anthems and songs at official events. Tamil Nadu’s explicit preference for Tamil Thai Vazhthu as the opening song for state functions reflects a formal alignment between state policy and practice. The Centre’s guidance on the relative order of Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana, and its stance that it did not require a state song to be last, adds a layer of intergovernmental complexity to how state songs are integrated into official ceremonies. The High Court’s revision to include Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the start signals judicial acceptance of the state’s protocol, potentially affecting future public events and administrative circulars.
Background
Tamil Thai Vazhthu was proclaimed Tamil Nadu’s State Song in December 2021, with guidelines stipulating that participants stand during its performance and that exemptions apply for persons with disabilities. The Tamil Nadu Assembly, on 10 August, unanimously resolved that Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be rendered first at functions handled by government departments, educational institutions, universities, PSUs, and other public bodies. A government order issued on 12 August operationalized this decision, directing that Tamil Thai Vazhthu be performed at the beginning of functions covered by the order. The ongoing debate about order also involves high-profile events where the established sequence was altered, prompting the Bar Association and the registry to adjust the Madras High Court’s Independence Day program accordingly.
Key Facts
- The Madras High Court revised its Independence Day programme to begin with Tamil Thai Vazhthu after concerns about its omission.
- Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution on August 10 to render Tamil Thai Vazhthu first at state functions.
- A government order issued on August 12 operationalized the decision that Tamil Thai Vazhthu be the opening song for covered functions.
- Tamil Thai Vazhthu was formally declared Tamil Nadu’s State Song in December 2021.
- Centre guidelines (July communication) on the sequence of Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana do not mandate a State Song to be placed last; they address sequencing when a state song is rendered.
- The Centre later stated it had not issued directions requiring a State Song to precede or follow the national songs in a fixed order beyond the specified sequence of Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana.
What Happens Next
At present, Tamil Nadu’s protocol is to open functions covered by the state protocol with Tamil Thai Vazhthu, as supported by the Assembly resolution and the government order. The Madras High Court’s circular has been updated to reflect this sequence for its Independence Day programme. No further Centre-directed changes to state song sequencing have been reported in the materials provided. Future public events in Tamil Nadu may follow the state’s opening-song practice unless new directives alter the established framework.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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