IIT Madras asked to play state invocation song at all functions

The institute is facing flak for not playing the state song, Tamil Thai Vazhthu, at the recently held convocation function. 

Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy has written a letter to IIT Madras Director Bhaskar Ramamurthi and asked him to ensure that the state’s invocation song (Tamil Thai Vazhthu) is played at all functions of the institution.  

The song, which is written by scholar Manonmaniam Pillai, is played at the beginning of all state government functions and the national anthem is played at the end of the function. 

How the controversy erupted?

There was a controversy over the Tamil Thai Vazhthu song not being played at the 58th convocation of the institute held recently. As many as 1,962 graduating students were awarded degrees on the occasion. The chief gues, Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, had attended the event virtually and congratulated the graduates. Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S Ramadoss had tweeted that "The Tamil anthem was ignored during the graduation ceremony at IIT Madras, but Sanskrit songs were sung. This is an insult to Tamils. The Government of Tamil Nadu has made it mandatory to sing the Tamil Anthem during government functions in the state. The state government should speak with IIT Madras management and make sure that the Tamil anthem is sung during all ceremonies.” 

In a letter to IIT Madras Director Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Ponmudy said, “…it is disheartening to learn that in the recently concluded convocation, the state invocation song ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ was not sung in the event, a deviation of well-established protocol.” Ponmudy has asked the institute Director to ensure that the invocation song is sung in all functions of the institution, including the convocation in the future. 
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