A Christian song was played before the Tamil Thai Vazhthu at an event attended by TVK government Tourism Minister Rajesh Kumar at the YMCA College of Physical Education in Chennai, triggering controversy a day after the state Assembly unanimously passed a resolution directing that the Tamil Thai Vazhthu be sung first at government functions, as reported in Hindu Tamil.
The sequence at the YMCA College event showed a Christian song being performed before the Tamil Thai Vazhthu. When questioned about the order, Minister Rajesh Kumar said the Tamil Thai Vazhthu had been sung first and explained that the Christian song was part of a prayer at the institution, which he described as a Christian college.
The incident has drawn attention because the Assembly had passed a separate resolution under Rule 110 on the previous day, stating that the Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be sung first at government functions.
The Tamil Thai Vazhthu, written by Manonmaniam Sundaranar, has traditionally been sung at the beginning of government functions in Tamil Nadu since 1970. The practice was introduced during the DMK’s tenure and continued under successive governments, including those led by the AIADMK.
The issue of the order in which the Tamil Thai Vazhthu is sung had already become politically contentious after it was reportedly placed third at the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Vijay in 2026. Similar instances were subsequently reported at several government events.
Against this backdrop, the Assembly’s unanimous resolution was seen as an attempt to formally settle the issue. The resolution was supported by all parties in the House.
However, the YMCA College event has now raised questions over whether the resolution applies to events held at institutions such as the Christian-run college, and whether the government considers a prayer or institutional song to be separate from the formal proceedings of a government function.
Speaking to reporters, Minister Rajesh Kumar maintained that the Tamil Thai Vazhthu was given the prescribed precedence at the event. He said the Christian song was a prayer conducted because the YMCA is a Christian institution.
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