Tamil Thai Vazhthu is a prayer song, not anthem: HC

Tamil Thai Vazhthu is a prayer song, not anthem: HC

‘There is no law requiring people to stand when it is sung’

The Hindu

11/12/2021

B. Tilak Chandar Madurai

Tamil Thai Vazhthu is a prayer song and not an anthem. There is no Statutory or Executive Order requiring attendees to stand up when it is sung. But the highest reverence and respect ought to be shown to the song, observed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

Justice G.R. Swaminathan took into account the fact that a Government Order (G.O.) issued in 1970 stated that the song, written by P. Sundaram Pillai, should be sung as a prayer song at the commencement (and not at the end) of all functions organised by government departments, local bodies and educational institutions.

In 2018, the then Governor Banwarilal Purohit released a Tamil-Sanskrit dictionary at a function held in Music Academy, Chennai, in the presence of the pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Shri Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. When Tamil Thai Vazhthu was played, the pontiff remained seated. This had triggered considerable outrage.

The judge observed, “I cannot help asking as to whether the whole controversy was justified in the first place”, while taking cognisance of the government order issued in 1970. A memo was also released in the same year, directing that Tamil Thai Vazhthu be sung in Raaga Mohanam and in Thisra Thaalam as composed by musician M.S. Viswanathan. Thus, it is a prayer song and not an anthem.

“It is true that members of the audience conventionally stand up whenever Tamil Thai Vazhthu is sung. But the question is whether this is the only mode in which respect can be shown. When we celebrate pluralism and diversity, insisting that there can be only one way of showing respect reeks of hypocrisy. One should not forget that a sanyasi occupies a special place in our social and cultural life,” the judge said. Further the judge observed, “On becoming a sanyasi, the person suffers a civil death. He must be taken to have a rebirth. A sanyasi primarily leads a life of piety. When in prayer, he is invariably found in a meditative posture. Since Tamil Thai Vazhthu is a prayer song, a sanyasi is certainly justified in sitting in a state of meditation. In the instant case, the pontiff is seen sitting in a dhyana posture with his eyes closed. It was his way of expressing his reverence and respect for Mother Tamil.”

The court was hearing a petition filed by Kan. Ilango, who sought the quashing of an FIR registered against him. Following the incident in 2018, Mr. Ilango and a dozen other people assembled before the branch of the Kanchi Mutt in Rameswaram and raised provocative slogans. They had allegedly entered the mutt wearing footwear and intimidated the manager. An FIR was registered by the Rameswaram police based on a complaint by the manager.

The judge took note of the fact that the petitioner was ready to make amends for his conduct and had approached the complainant with a letter expressing his regret. Considering the fact that the petitioner and the complainant have reconciled, no purpose would be served by continuing with the prosecution, the judge said, and quashed the FIR.