Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has on Friday made a major announcement declaring 'Tamil Thai Vazhthu' as the state's song and that everyone should stand while it is being played at the events. The announcement has been welcomed by the Tamil scholars and activists. The government has issued an order concerning the same. 

In the order, the government has said that it is compulsory for everyone to stand while the song is sung during government events. However, people with disabilities have been exempted from standing while the song is being sung. Chief Minister MK Stalin, in a statement, said that the Tamil language remains the way of life of Tamils and it is a reflection of their sentiments.

He added that Tamils are admiring the language as mother Tamil and representatives of Tamil sangams, scholars, and intellectuals were appealing to the government to declare the song as a state song to celebrate the classical language with rich literature. Reminiscing the demand of Karanthai Tamil Sangam in 1913, the CM stated that the Sangam had appealed to make "Neerarum Kadalaudhutha' song, written by Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai as state's song to hail the Tamil language. 

He noted that since 1914, the Sangam had introduced and followed the practice of singing the song before the commencement of their annual programme. The other Tamil Sangams in the state had started following the practice. The Chief Minister had highlighted that the Karanthai Tamil Singam had put forward the demand to then Chief Minister CN Annadurai to announce the song as the state's official song. 

The then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had on March 11, 1970, had announced that Tamil Thai Vazhthu would be sung in all government events. A government order was also issued on November 23 in the same year. Recently, the department of Tamil development issued a circular to put forth a certain protocol that should be followed by government departments and educational institutions when conducting events. MK Stalin has further said that the younger generation should be encouraged to sing the song at the beginning of the event.