A statesman’s life
The author’s inclusion of her father’s own assess- ments, notably his observation that Sonia Gandhi was “only trying to protect her own and her family’s interests,” adds a layer of candid introspection to the narrative.
The style of addressing with ‘his or her highness’ cannot be used any more for the Uttarakhand Governor.
Governor Baby Rani Maurya has issued instructions not to use “his or her highness” as a term of greeting the governor.
She has issued an order to replace the term with “the honourable governor” through the secretary to the governor RK Sudhanshu, an official release here said.
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Earlier in February, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had urged the members not to address the Chair as “His Excellency” and instead use “Honourable Chairman” or “Vice President”.
Naidu’s suggestion came during the Zero Hour when Janata Dal-United (JD-U) member Harvansh was laying papers in the House.
“I want to tell all the members. I have seen because the chair of Rajya Sabha holds the dual responsibilities of Chairman and the Vice President of India. I often find it embarrassing when the members and even others call the Vice President ‘His Excellency’,” he said.
“I would request and suggest all the members and even others that they should address the Chair as ‘Honourable Chairman’ or ‘Vice President’,” Naidu added.
Earlier, during the Winter Session of Parliament, Naidu had urged the members to stop saying: “I beg to…” before laying papers on the table.
Naidu asked the ministers and other members of the House to do away with such colonial lexicon.
In 2012, former President Pranab Mukherjee approved a new set of protocol to be used in greetings and meetings dignitaries inside and outside the country.
“Use of the words His Excellency will be discontinued while organising functions within the country and during interaction between Indian dignitaries and the President,” a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman said in a statement.
Mukherjee also directed that the word Hon’ble will be used before the title of ‘President’ or ‘Governor.’ The traditional Indian greeting of “Shri” or “Smt” should precede the name.
Whereas “Excellency” will be used only for the interaction of leaders with foreign dignitaries as is customary international practice, the statement said.
(With agency inputs)
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