The story so far: The Madras High Court has revised its Independence Day programme to include Tamil Thai Vazhthu (Invocation to Mother Tamil ) at the beginning of the celebrations, after the Madurai Bench Bar Association expressed concerns about its omission from the court’s earlier circular. The development comes days after the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution making Tamil Thai Vazhthu the first song at State functions, and the State government issued a Government Order to that effect. The developments have brought attention to the protocol governing the State Song, Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana.

What is the controversy over Vande Mataram and Tamil Thai Vazhthu?

The controversy is about the order in which Tamil Thai Vazhthu, Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana should be rendered at official functions.

Tamil Thai Vazhthu was formally declared Tamil Nadu’s State Song in December 2021. It had, however, been traditionally rendered at the beginning of State government functions.

The issue came into focus after Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony on May 10, where Vande Mataram was rendered first, followed by Jana Gana Mana and Tamil Thai Vazhthu. The sequence differed from the established practice in Tamil Nadu and triggered a debate over it.

The issue resurfaced at the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University convocation in July, where Tamil Thai Vazhthu was again rendered after Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana.

On August 10, the Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously resolved that Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be rendered first at functions organised by government departments, educational institutions, universities, public sector undertakings and other public institutions. The State government followed this with a Government Order on August 12. The G.O. also said that Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be rendered in accordance with all the guidelines issued in another G.O. in 2021, when it was declared the State song.

The Madras High Court’s Independence Day programme became the latest point of contention when its original circular omitted Tamil Thai Vazhthu. After the Bar objected, the Registry revised the circular to include the State Song at the beginning of the celebrations.

What does the Centre’s latest communication say?

The Union Home Ministry’s July 9 communication lays down the protocol for the national song and national anthem.

It specifies that when Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana are both rendered, Vande Mataram comes first, followed by Jana Gana Mana.

The communication also deals with occasions when a State song is rendered along with the national song and national anthem. It does not prescribe that a State song must be placed after Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana.

The Centre subsequently told the Madras High Court that it had not issued any direction prescribing that a State Song should be placed last.

The July communication instead establishes the sequence between Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana, while also providing for a State Song when one is rendered at the same function.

What is Tamil Nadu’s protocol for Tamil Thai Vazhthu?

Tamil Nadu’s position is that Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be the opening song at functions covered by the State’s protocol.

The State formally declared it the State song in December 2021. The government order issued at the time also required people present at official functions to stand while it was rendered, with an exemption for persons with disabilities.

The August 10 Assembly resolution reaffirmed the practice of rendering Tamil Thai Vazhthu first at functions organised by government departments, educational institutions, universities, PSUs and other public institutions.

The Government Order issued on August 12 gives administrative effect to this decision, directing that Tamil Thai Vazhthu be rendered at the beginning of functions covered by the order.

After the Bar objected to the omission of Tamil Thai Vazhthu from the Madras High Court’s original Independence Day programme, the revised circular placed the State song at the beginning.

So, what is the order when all three songs are played?

The July 9 MHA communication does not prescribe a specific order for all three songs. It specifies that Vande Mataram should precede Jana Gana Mana when both are rendered, but it does not prescribe where a State song should be placed in relation to them.

Tamil Nadu’s August 12 Government Order, however, requires Tamil Thai Vazhthu to be rendered first at functions covered by it.

Thus, where all three songs are rendered under the applicable protocol, the sequence is Tamil Thai Vazhthu, Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana.

Published - August 15, 2026 03:54 pm IST