M. Gautham MachaiahThe Congress party has recently issued an advisory to its blue-blooded members to drop their feudal titles, but why are the neo royals, the political class, still allowed to use pompous honorifics?
Royal titles ceased to exist with the abolition of Privy Purse by Indira Gandhi in 1971, but many Congress leaders continued to use titles like Maharaja and Maharani, prompting this directive from the party high command. But the political masters who have replaced the royals, continue to use appendages like Excellency or Honourable.
For instance, any reference to the President of India and Governors of States is prefixed with His/Her Excellency in all official records and communication. There has been no instance in India where a President or Governor has voluntarily given up this ‘title’. In fact, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and Raj Bhavans expect the President or Governors to be addressed as His or Her Excellency.
Similarly, any reference to an elected representative, be it the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Minister, MP or MLA is preceded by Honourable. It is always Honourable Prime Minister, Honourable Chief Minister or Honourable Minister.
The Mayor of a city, on the other hand, is addressed as Worshipful Mayor. One wonders how many Mayors in India are worthy of worship.
One of the arguments put forth by the Congress while issuing its advisory was, “Everybody is a common man in India.” That being the case, why are politicians being treated as a special class?
The situation is worse in the judiciary. Judges in the lower courts are referred to as Your Honour, while in the High Court and Supreme Court they are addressed as My Lord. It is not just the advocates; even judges refer to each other as My Lord. Will a mere Sir or Madam not suffice?
To be fair to the judiciary, the Supreme Court has on several occasions advised that such honorifics should be dropped, but the Bar Council of India has failed to rise to the occasion.
If the Congress really believes in the equality of all, the UPA Government should issue a directive banning political titles like His Excellency, Honourable and Worshipful, besides feudal references like Your Honour and My Lord.
Politicians are the servants of the people and as such they have no right to pamper themselves with lofty titles which do not have the sanction of the Constitution.
(Picture sourced from: www.timeotcchem.com)
Royal titles ceased to exist with the abolition of Privy Purse by Indira Gandhi in 1971, but many Congress leaders continued to use titles like Maharaja and Maharani, prompting this directive from the party high command. But the political masters who have replaced the royals, continue to use appendages like Excellency or Honourable.
For instance, any reference to the President of India and Governors of States is prefixed with His/Her Excellency in all official records and communication. There has been no instance in India where a President or Governor has voluntarily given up this ‘title’. In fact, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and Raj Bhavans expect the President or Governors to be addressed as His or Her Excellency.
Similarly, any reference to an elected representative, be it the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Minister, MP or MLA is preceded by Honourable. It is always Honourable Prime Minister, Honourable Chief Minister or Honourable Minister.
The Mayor of a city, on the other hand, is addressed as Worshipful Mayor. One wonders how many Mayors in India are worthy of worship.
One of the arguments put forth by the Congress while issuing its advisory was, “Everybody is a common man in India.” That being the case, why are politicians being treated as a special class?
The situation is worse in the judiciary. Judges in the lower courts are referred to as Your Honour, while in the High Court and Supreme Court they are addressed as My Lord. It is not just the advocates; even judges refer to each other as My Lord. Will a mere Sir or Madam not suffice?
To be fair to the judiciary, the Supreme Court has on several occasions advised that such honorifics should be dropped, but the Bar Council of India has failed to rise to the occasion.
If the Congress really believes in the equality of all, the UPA Government should issue a directive banning political titles like His Excellency, Honourable and Worshipful, besides feudal references like Your Honour and My Lord.
Politicians are the servants of the people and as such they have no right to pamper themselves with lofty titles which do not have the sanction of the Constitution.
(Picture sourced from: www.timeotcchem.com)
COMMENTS
Good stuff. But Congress workers should be allowed to refer to their respective state chiefs as `Oh Great Fearless Leader'. May be then the odd State chief might even be emboldened to rebel against the High Command! Nevertheless, should be fun at the national plenary when a great number of `Great Fearless Leaders' would be seen sucking up!
-Vedam Jaishankar, Bangalore
Well, I agree with you, but sometimes people themselves want to address you by bestowing such titles and honorifics. It also makes room for creative expressions in rather boring speeches and write-ups. Just being a bit democratic about my own opinion!
-Rajesh Gundu Rao, Bangalore
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