Honour in high places

Changes in high protocol take time to filter into the consciousness of the less exalted. Thus, when former President A P J Abdul Kalam visited Vadodara for an event, he was referred to as "H.E. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam" in the banner on the dais and in the welcome speech, H.E. standing for His Excellency. This not only constitutes a misuse of protocol, since the former president cannot be referred to as His Excellency but the term is no longer in use either. Current incumbent Pranab Mukherjee had discarded it in favour of "Honourable" about a year ago. Taxed on the issue, the event organisers expressed ignorance of these developments