Tamil Nadu governor wants 'His Excellency' tag dropped, says use 'Honourable' instead

Following the protocol put in place by President Pranab Mukherjee, Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Sunday said only the word "Honourable" should be prefixed to his name and not "His Excellency."

A Raj Bhavan release said "C Vidyasagar Rao, the governor of Tamil Nadu, has directed that henceforth on all ceremonial occasions and in official and other communications, the word 'Honourable Governor' or its Tamil equivalent 'Maanbumigu Aalunar', may be used."

In a departure from the British era practise of addressing Governors as "His Excellency," Rao directed that "the present practise of using the salutation His Excellency the Governor, or the Tamil equivalent Methagu Aalunar, may be discontinued."

However, the salutation "His Excellency" will continue to be used in interaction with foreign dignitaries, the release said.

In 2012, President Pranab Mukherjee had introduced a new set of protocol for greeting Constitutional heads, the President and state Governors, inside and outside the country.

According to the new protocol, the salutation 'His Excellency' was discontinued while organising functions within the country and during interaction between Indian dignitaries and the President. In Hindi, 'Rashtrapati Mahoday' is to be used in place of 'Mahamahin' during such occasions.

The President had also directed that the word "Hon'ble" will be used before the title of 'President' or 'Governor'.

Preceding the name of the dignitaries would be the traditional Indian greeting 'Shri' or 'Smt'.

TAG RETAINED FOR INTERACTIONS WITH FOREIGN DIGNITARIES

The reference 'His Excellency' was, however, retained for occasions involving interactions with foreign dignitaries in line with international practice.

Much before Tamil Nadu Governor expressed his desire to end the British era practice of addressing "His Excellency", there have been other constitutional heads who have expressed the same.

On August 20, 2014, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik said that the word 'Honourable' should be used instead of the customary 'His Excellency' in addressing him. He said instead of using 'His Excellency' or 'Mahamahim' before the gubernatorial name, 'Mananiya Rajyapal' or 'Rajyapal Mahodaya' must be used in its place.

On September 16, 2014, former chief justice of India, P Sathasivam after taking over as governor of Kerala , too had dispensed with the practise of using the words "His Excellency." A release from Raj Bhavan said the the governor of Kerala desires that he may be addressed as honourable governor in all correspondence and not along with other epithet such as His Excellency.

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In October 2012, when Lalit Narayan Mithila University (LNMU), Darbhanga in Bihar had extended an invitation to President Pranab Mukherjee to address the convocation, he was firmly against the use of colonial words and wanted more democratic address.

Rashtrapati Bhawan directed the University to do away with the hitherto customary honorifics such as "His Excellency" and "Honourable"used with his name and post in an invitation card printed for a convocation ceremony. The approved content then became "Sri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, will be the chief guest and deliver the convocation address." Similarly, words like 'his excellency and 'honourable' were removed from the name of Governor Devanand Konwar.

A NORM IN REPUBLICAN STATES

In most republican nations, the head of state is formally addressed as "His Excellency". Excellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organisation or state.

Generally people addressed as Excellency are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, royalty, and others holding equivalent rank (e.g., heads of international organizations, high commissioners in the Commonwealth of Nations) and the FIFA President.

Sometimes it is misinterpreted as a title of office in itself, but in fact is an honorific that precedes various titles (such as Mr. President, and so on), both in speech and in writing. In reference to such an official, it takes the form His Excellency; in direct address, Your Excellency, or, less formally, simply Excellency.

Governors of colonies in the British Empire were entitled to be addressed as Excellency and this remains the position for the governors of what are now known as British Overseas Territories.

In various international organizations, like the UN and its agencies, Excellency is used as a generic form of address for all heads of state and heads of government. It is often granted to the organization's head as well, and to those chiefs of UN diplomatic missions, such as Resident Coordinators (who are the designated representatives of the Secretary-General), who are accredited at the Head of State (like an Ambassador), or the lower Head of Government level.

TAG COMMON AMONG INTERNATIONAL JUDGES

Judges of the International Court of Justice are also called Your Excellency.

In some monarchies the husbands, wives, or children, of a royal prince or princess, who do not possess a princely title themselves, may be entitled to the style. For example, in Spain spouses or children of a born infante or infanta are addressed as Excellency, if not accorded a higher style.

In some emirates (e.g., Kuwait or Qatar), only the Emir, heir apparent and prime minister are called His Highness. Their children are styled with the lower treatment of His/Her Excellency.

In India, the President of India and governors of states were addressed as His Excellency, a custom dating from the British Raj wherein the Viceroy and the Governors of Provinces were addressed by such references.

END TO COLONIAL PRACTICE

However, the newer protocol rules approved by the President of India will discontinue "colonial era" styles of His (or Her) Excellency.

The new protocol adopted by the Rashtrapati Bhawan is a welcome move. It brings an end to the legacy of colonial era. The practice of using 'His Excellency' to address the governor has already been given up in some states as some Governors of the state has expressed their desire to toe the protocol put in place by the President.

The use of these references date back to the British system beginning with monarchy and graded hierarchy, with terms such as majesty, excellency, which are feudal and monarchic.

The Constitution of says that India is a liberal democracy, therefore continuing such titles would be against the theme of our democracy.