IIT Madras gets flak for failing to play Tamil anthem at convocation – India Today

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has once again found itself in the middle of a controversy for not playing the Tamil anthem during its convocation ceremony.

The institute held its 58th convocation on Friday as 1,962 students graduated. Olympic medallist PV Sindhu virtually attended the event and congratulated the graduates.

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However, controversy erupted after Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S Ramadoss stated that the Tamil anthem was not played during the convocation ceremony. “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,” Ramadoss tweeted.

.. . . . !(1/4)#IITMadras

— Dr S RAMADOSS (@drramadoss) November 21, 2021

IIT Madras had received similar flak for not playing the Tamil Anthem at an event on the campus in 2018. Students had then sung Maha Ganapathim Manasa Smarami, penned by late poet Muthuswami Dikshithar as the invocation song.

PMK cadres also held a protest near IIT Madras slamming the management.

AIADMK coordinator and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam stated that he, too, was unhappy with the issue. “The Tamil anthem being ignored during IIT Madras Convocation ceremony is very sad,” said O Panneerselvam.

Watch | IIT Madras gets flak for failing to play Tamil anthem at convocation

He also urged Chief Minister MK Stalin to talk to the management and make sure that the Tamil anthem is not ignored in future ceremonies.

DMK South Chennai MP Tamilachi Thangapandiyan slammed the omission of the Tamil anthem by IIT Madras from its convocation. “This is highly condemnable. Several times PM Narendra Modi has spoken proudly about the Tamil language. He has never forgotten to quote Tamil poets like Thiruvalluvar in his speeches. I hope they are not empty words,” stated Tamilachi Thangapandian.

She also said that since IIT Madras is a central educational institute in Tamil Nadu, it is mandatory for the management to play the Tamil anthem.