# Munshi

Munshi is a Persian word, originally used for a contractor, writer, or secretary, and later used in Mughal India for native language teachers, teachers of various subjects, especially administrative principles, religious texts, science, and philosophy and were also secretaries and translators employed by Europeans.

## Etymology

Munshi (Persian: منشی) is a Persian word, derived from Arabic, that was the active participle of inshāʾ, or the composition of official documents. It came to be used as a respected title for persons who achieved mastery over languages, especially in the Indian subcontinent. It became a surname to those people whose ancestors had received this title and some of whom also served as ministers and administrators in the kingdoms of various royalty and are regarded as nobility. In modern Persian, this word is also used to address administrators, head of departments.

## Use by British

Administrators, head of departments, accountants, and secretaries hired by the government in British India were known as Munshies. The family name Munshi was adopted by families in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) whose ancestors were honoured with this title and were responsible for administering various offices etc. and these families (selective) were and are regarded as nobility. Abdul Karim, known as "the Munshi", was a highly valued and respected Indian attendant of Queen Victoria.

## Kashmiri surname

Munshi is used as a last name by Kashmiri Pandits, native to the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It was a title given to some groups of elite upper-caste Hindu Kashmiris for their mastery over the Persian language.

## Bengali surname

The surname "Munshi" (Bengali: মুন্সি) is used by both Bengali Hindus native to West Bengal, India and sometimes by some Bengali Muslim families in Bangladesh as well. The surname is commonly associated with former Zamindari families in Bengal since the time of the Nawabs of Bengal.

## Notable people

* Aditi Munshi (born 1988), Indian singer and politician
* Annada Munsi (1905–1985), 'Father of Commercial Art in India'
* Ashfaq Munshi, former CTO of Yahoo
* Aziz A. Munshi, four-term Attorney General of Pakistan
* Bhagat Munshi Ram (1906–1998), Indian spiritual guru
* Bubu Eklund née Munshi (born 1951), Bengali singer
* Harendranath Munshi (1914–1938), Indian revolutionary
* Hounsh Munshi (born 1993), Indian figure skater
* Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi (1887–1971), Indian independence movement activist and politician
* Kaumudi Munshi (1929–2020), Indian classical music musician
* Lilavati Munshi (1899–1978), Indian politician
* Mahmudul Haque Munshi (born 1987), Bangladeshi human rights activist
* Manjurul Ahsan Munshi, Bangladeshi politician
* Manu Munsi, (1924–2009) Indian Mother-of-Pearl artist
* Munsi Kabir Uddin Ahmed, Bangladeshi Superintendent of Police
* Munshi Abdullah (1796–1854), Malayan writer
* Munshi Abdul Latif, Bangladeshi politician
* Munshi Abdul Majid, Afghan politician
* Munshi Abdur Rouf (1943–1971), Bangladeshi freedom fighter
* Munshibari family of Comilla, a British Raj era Zamindar family from Bengal Presidency
* Munshibari family of Ulipur, a British Raj era Zamindar family from Bengal Presidency
* Munshi family of Chaugachha, a British Raj era Zamindar family from Bengal Presidency
* Munshi Hakimuddin (1839–1894), Chief Secretary at Bhopal state
* Munshi Mohammad Fazle Kader (1928–2019), Indian citizen who was awarded Friends of Liberation War Honour
* Munshi Mangal Singh Masaram, creator of Munshi Mangal Singh Masaram script
* Munshi Nawal Kishore (1836–1895), Indian book publisher
* Munshi Premchand (1880–1936), pioneer of Hindi and Urdu social fiction
* Munshi Raisuddin (1901–1973), Bangladeshi musician, Ekushey Padak awardee
* Munshi Raziuddin (1912–2003), Pakistani Qawwali singer
* Munshi Wadud, Bangladeshi lyricist
* Mohan Lal Kashmiri (1812–1877), Indian diplomat involved in the Great Game
* Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi (1945–2017), former Indian Union Minister
* Ritabrata Munshi (born 1976), Indian mathematician
* S. C. Munshi, Indian cardiologist
* Shayan Munshi (born 1980), Indian actor
* Shahzad Munshi (born 1969), Pakistani politician
* Sridhara Narayana Munshi, Finance Minister of Nagpur, known for Munshi Ghat
* Shweta Munshi (born 2008), Indian actress
* Tipu Munshi (born 1950), Bangladeshi politician
* Vidya Munshi (1919–2014), leader of Communist Party of India and arguably the first woman journalist of India
* Zainon Munshi Sulaiman (1903–1989), Malaysian politician