Chennai : Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S Ramadoss slams Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras for not playing Tamil Anthem at the Convocation ceremony, but playing Sanskrit songs. IIT has once again ended up in a controversy.
IIT had held it’s 58th Convocation Ceremony on Friday, as 1,962 students graduated. Olympic medalist PV Sindhu virtually attended the event and congratulated the graduates.
The controversy erupted when Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S Ramadoss stated that the Tamil anthem was not played during the convocation ceremony. He tweeted, “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.”
சென்னை ஐ.ஐ.டியில் நேற்று நடைபெற்ற பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவில் தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்து புறக்கணிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. மாறாக சமஸ்கிருதத்தில் இறைவணக்கம் பாடப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. இது தமிழ்த்தாயை அவமதிக்கும் செயலாகும். இது கண்டிக்கத்தக்கது!(1/4)#IITMadras
— Dr S RAMADOSS (@drramadoss) November 21, 2021
Earlier too IIT Madras had received similar criticism for not playing 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.
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.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
