Actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay convened a meeting at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai, where his party adopted 26 resolutions—many echoing DMK’s well-worn rhetoric. From advocating the scrapping of NEET to opposing the Governor’s role, One Nation One Election, and the Waqf Bill, Vijay’s resolutions underline TVK’s alignment with familiar DMK ideologies.
One resolution stands out: TVK’s call to establish Tamil as the “language of worship.” The resolution asserts that Tamil Nadu’s official language, Tamil, should be used in worship—a point that seems directed toward Hindu temple practices, where both Tamil and Sanskrit prayers coexist, blending traditions from Thevaram and Divyaprabandham to Vedic chants. However, Islamic worship in Tamil Nadu is almost exclusively conducted in Arabic, from the daily azaan to mosque prayers.
Given this discrepancy, a pressing question emerges: will Vijay’s call for Tamil worship extend to non-Hindu communities, or is this just another rhetorical nod aimed at reshaping Hindu traditions alone?
During the meeting, 26 resolutions were passed, several of which were nothing but the same ‘aracha maavu’ of the DMK, which has already been pulithified. From calling for scrapping NEET and abolishing the Governor’s post to opposing three language policies, One Nation One Election, and Waqf Bill, Vijay’s TVK has proved that he is nothing but another DMK.
One of the noteworthy resolutions passed by Joseph Vijay‘s “secular social justice” ideology-driven party is its call for having Tamil as the “language of worship”.
“Tamil is the official language in Tamil Nadu. It will be ensured that Tamil is made the language of worship.”, reads the resolution passed by Joseph Vijay’s TVK.
This resolution seems to be aimed specifically at Hindu temples as archakas and devotees offer worship predominantly in Sanskrit.
Joseph Vijay who seems to be aping the DMK, should know that Tamil worship is already prevalent in Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu. Saivite priests sing the Thevaram and other Thirumurais while the Vaishnavite priests sing the Naalayira Divyaprabandham. In many temples, the Tamil Vedas are chanted at the front of the procession, followed by the Sanskrit Vedas
However, it is but common knowledge that followers of Islam offer worship in Arabic. The azaan (call for prayer) that blares 5 times a day is recited in Arabic.
Hence it is pertinent to ask whether Vijay’s call for having Tamil as the “language of worship” will be made applicable to Muslims as well?
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