State song issue, cert handover disrupt convocation at varsity

State song issue, cert handover disrupt convocation at varsity

 

Ram.Sundaram@timesofindia.com 29.07.2026

Madurai : A fresh row broke out between political parties and Tamil Nadu governor R V Arlekar on Tuesday as ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazthu’ was sung third, after ‘Vande Mataram’ and National Anthem at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University’s 33rd convocation. 

State higher education minister and pro-chancellor P Viswanathan as well as TVK MLAs from the district boycotted the event. TVK, its allies as well as opposition DMK flayed the governor for ‘relegating Tamil Thaai Vaazthu to third position.’ State law minister R Nirmalkumar accused the governor of imposing the Union govt’s agenda while disregarding public sentiment. 

“He should confine his agenda to Lok Bhavan and respect TN’s people,” he said. DMK MP Kanimozhi questioned chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s silence. She said that it was the first time that a university convocation ceremony in TN opened with ‘Vande Mataram’ pushing the state song to third place. 

“Will CM Vijay open his mouth over the issue,’’ she asked. CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said, “We want the state govt to enact a law in the upcoming assembly session to guarantee that ‘Thamizh Thai Vaazthu’ is sung first.” Meanwhile, 758 doctoral scholars created a flutter as they protested against the announcement that only 113 medallists would receive degrees directly from the governor. 

The decision was eventually withdrawn. Organisers announced as the governor was unwell and would not be able to stand though out the ceremony. The announcement triggered objections across the hall. University vice-chancellor N Chandrasekar spoke to Arlekar and announced that the governor would present certificates to all the candidate. Arlekar apologised, saying he would not disregard scholars who had waited after years of work to receive degrees from the chancellor