Tamil Thai Vazhthu must open convocations, says TNCC chief Tagore
Synopsis
A reported Governor's office circular placing Vande Mataram first and Tamil Thai Vazhthu third at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University's convocation has drawn sharp fire from TNCC chief Manickam Tagore — who notes the state song was written by the very scholar the university is named after. The row crystallises an ongoing tension between Union government protocol and Tamil Nadu's fierce defence of linguistic identity.
Key Takeaways
TNCC president Manickam Tagore condemned the reported convocation protocol at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli on 26 July .
The disputed order places Vande Mataram first, the National Anthem second, and Tamil Thai Vazhthu third at the 33rd convocation on 28 July .
Chandrasekar reportedly attributed the directive to the Governor's office .
Tagore noted that Tamil Thai Vazhthu was composed by Manonmaniam Sundaranar , the scholar after whom the university is named.
The TNCC chief demanded Home Minister Amit Shah revoke the order and issue a public apology.
Neither the Governor's office nor the Union Home Ministry had publicly responded as of the time of reporting.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Manickam Tagore on 26 July strongly condemned the reported protocol for the upcoming convocation at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli, alleging it sidelines the state's linguistic and cultural identity. Tagore demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah immediately withdraw the directive and issue a public apology to the people of Tamil Nadu.
The Protocol Controversy
The dispute surrounds the university's 33rd convocation, scheduled for 28 July, at which Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar is expected to confer degrees. According to Tagore, Vice-Chancellor N. Chandrasekar stated in a media interaction that the Governor's office had circulated a directive prescribing the following order: Vande Mataram first, then the National Anthem, and only thereafter the Tamil Thai Vazhthu — the state's traditional invocation song.
Why the Sequence Matters
Tagore described the development as 'deeply shocking', noting that the Tamil Thai Vazhthu was composed by Manonmaniam Sundaranar himself — the very scholar after whom the university is named. Relegating the song to third position at an institution bearing the poet's name, he argued, amounts to an affront to Tamil language, culture, and the sentiments of the state's people.
The TNCC chief alleged that the reported circular reflects a broader attempt by the Union government to diminish Tamil identity. He claimed that a standing directive requiring Vande Mataram to precede the National Anthem and the state song at events attended by Governors is the root cause of what he termed the 'humiliation' of the Tamil Thai Vazhthu.
Congress's Broader Charge Against BJP
Tagore further accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership of repeatedly disregarding Tamil language, culture, and state rights. While affirming that Tamil Nadu has historically championed India's unity and contributed significantly to the freedom struggle, he said the state has always placed equal weight on preserving its linguistic heritage and constitutional rights.
He pointed to the practice in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly — where the Tamil Thai Vazhthu is rendered at the commencement of official proceedings — as the standard that should be followed at the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University convocation and at all future state government functions.
Warning and Next Steps
Cautioning against repeated interference in matters tied to Tamil identity, Tagore said the people of Tamil Nadu would respond firmly to any attempt to undermine their cultural sentiments. As of the time of this report, neither the Governor's office nor the Union Home Ministry had issued a public response to the allegations. The convocation is set to proceed on 28 July, and the final protocol to be followed remains a point of active contention.
Point of View
And any deviation at a state university carries symbolic weight that cuts across party lines. What makes this episode sharper is the institutional irony: the song in question was written by the poet the university commemorates. The BJP's silence so far suggests it may be calculating whether engaging on Tamil identity politics ahead of future electoral cycles is worth the cost — a calculation that has repeatedly misfired in the South.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tamil Thai Vazhthu controversy at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University?
The controversy concerns a reported directive from the Tamil Nadu Governor's office prescribing that Vande Mataram be sung first, followed by the National Anthem, and only then the Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the university's 33rd convocation on 28 July. TNCC president Manickam Tagore has condemned this order as an affront to Tamil linguistic and cultural identity.
Who is Manickam Tagore and what has he demanded?
Manickam Tagore is the president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC). He has demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah immediately withdraw the reported directive and issue a public apology to the people of Tamil Nadu.
Why is the Tamil Thai Vazhthu significant at this university?
The Tamil Thai Vazhthu was composed by Manonmaniam Sundaranar, the poet-scholar after whom Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli is named. Tagore argues that placing the song third at an institution bearing the composer's name is a direct insult to his legacy and to Tamil culture.
What protocol does Tamil Nadu currently follow for official functions?
In the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the Tamil Thai Vazhthu is traditionally rendered at the start of official proceedings. Tagore has insisted this practice should be extended to all state government functions, including university convocations.
Has the Governor's office or the Union Home Ministry responded?
As of the time of reporting, neither the Governor's office nor the Union Home Ministry had issued a public response to the allegations made by TNCC president Manickam Tagore.
