'His Excellency' done away with, it's Hon'ble Prez now

President Pranab Mukherjee would henceforth be addressed as ‘Honourable’, not the grandiloquent ‘His Excellency’, according to the new protocol approved by him.

Mukherjee, who has earlier stated as president of the country, he would like to be an “upholder of the Constitution”, has done away with colonial era titles for the posts of president and governors. He has also said to reduce inconvenience caused to the public during the movement of his convoy in the capital, as far as possible, all functions in the city that require his presence would be held in the premises of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In Hindi, the words ‘Rashtrapati Mahoday’ would replace the ‘Mahamahim’ address. The president’s secretariat would also use the new protocol in all its official dealings.

Earlier this month, Mukherjee, who was scheduled to address the convocation ceremony at Lalit Narayan Mithila University in Darbhanga, Bihar, urged the organisers to replace ‘His Excellency’ in the invitation card with the traditional Indian ‘Shri’. He also ensured no special chair was provided to him at the convocation.

Speaking to Business Standard before he took over as president, Mukherjee had said he simply wished to be “an active president, involved in studying and interpreting his Constitutional duties.”

The President’s Office, which has formally issued the protocol, today informed the Ministry of Home Affairs about the decision. The new protocol is in keeping with the facelift being given to the post of president, according to Mukherjee’s wishes. For instance, the president’s revamped website is more user-friendly and offers more channels of communication between the president and the public.

With steps such as these, Mukherjee is sure to leave his mark on the post as more than just a titular head.