CHENNAI, Aug. 11 -- Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution that the Tamil invocation song "Thamizh Thaai Vaazthu" penned by the late poet, scholar Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai, should be rendered at government functions.

"...Tamil Thaai Vazhthu taken from the play 'Manonmaniam' written in 1891 by Manonmaniam Sundaranar, must be sung first at government functions from November 23, 1970," the resolution stated.

The resolution was moved by chief minister C Joseph Vijay and was supported by the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and other parties in the Assembly.

"Tamil is not just a language, but also our life and emotions. The Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, upholds t...