Tamil → English transcript

You have been unanimously elected as Speaker of the House. The honorable

Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition held

your hands, led you to this seat, and seated you.

It will be interesting to hear how this tradition began.

There is a great history behind this event. Our parliamentary procedures

are similar to those of the British Parliament. The Parliament there

functioned even in the days of monarchy. In those days, there was a

king who held all powers, and the Parliament also functioned. There, the king

would wish for a certain task to be done, and the Parliament would usually

reject his wish. The news that the Parliament had rejected what the king

desired to do The person who must speak to the king is called the Speaker of

Parliament. The Speaker is the one who must convey Parliament’s views to the king.

That takes courage. For some actions,

the king needs Parliament’s permission, but in that kingdom he

has the power to impose the death penalty on any subject.

If the Speaker tells him that Parliament has rejected what he wanted,

the king will order that the death penalty be imposed. He will order,“

Behead him.” Since this happened many times, no one wants to

take the post of Speaker.

So, whenever a new Parliament is formed and someone is named Speaker,

he immediately runs away, thinking it is enough just to save his head.

The presiding officer of the House and the Leader of the Opposition They

will stop him, hold his hands, pull him over and seat him in the chair.

This is the tradition that has come down from that time. This tradition continues

even after the advent of the democratic system.

I am sure that all the members of the Tamil Nadu Victory Party will indeed be

helpful to you, and I wish to give that assurance at

this moment. They have entrusted

to you the responsibility of protecting the dignity and honor of the Assembly,

and the honor of the Assembly members,

which you must safeguard.