![Munshi](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Munshi.jpg)
Munshi is a Persian word, originally used for a contractor, writer, or secretary, and later used in the
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...
and
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
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 ( fa, منشی) is a Persian word derived form Arabic, that is used as a respected title for persons who achieved mastery over languages, especially in the
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...
. 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 Royals 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
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
were known as Munshies. The family name Munshi was adopted by families 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 ʻAbd al-Karīm (ALA-LC romanization of ar, عبد الكريم) is a Muslim male given name and, in modern usage, also a surname. It is built from the Arabic words '' ʻabd'' and ''al-Karīm'', one of the names of God in the Qur'an, which give ris ...
, known as "The Munshi", was a highly valued and respected Indian attendant of
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...
.
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See also
*
Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir
Abdullah bin Abdul al Kadir (1796–1854) ( ar, عبد الله بن عبد القادر ') also known as Munshi Abdullah, was a Malayan writer of mixed ancestry. He was a famous Malacca-born munshi of Singapore and died in Jeddah, a part of ...
*
Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi
Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi (; 30 December 1887 – 8 February 1971), popularly known by his pen name Ghanshyam Vyas, was an Indian independence movement activist, politician, writer and educationist from Gujarat state. A lawyer by profession, ...
*
Munshi Abdur Rouf
Munshi Abdur Rouf ( bn, মুন্সী আবদুর রউফ; 8 May 1943 – 8 April 1971) was a Lance Nayek in the East Pakistan Rifles during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He enlisted in the East Pakistan Rifles on 8 May 1963, and was ...
*
Munshi Hakimuddin
Munshi Hakimuddin (1839–1894) was Chief Secretary at Bhopal state during the period of Nawab Shah Jahan Begum.
Biography
Munshi Hakimuddin was 'Meer Munshi-e Riyasat Bhopal' (Chief Secretary of the Bhopal state) and hence popularly known as ...
*
Munshi Premchand
Dhanpat Rai Srivastava (31 July 1880 – 8 October 1936), better known by his pen name Premchand (), was an Indian writer famous for his modern Hindustani literature. Premchand was a pioneer of Hindi and Urdu social fiction. He was one of ...
*
Mohan Lal Kashmiri
Mohan Lal Zutshi KLS (popularly known as Mohan Lal Kashmiri; 1812 – 1877) was an Indian traveler, diplomat, and author. He deserves to be credited as being an important player in the so-called Great Game—possibly the first notable Ind ...
References
External links
{{Wiktionary
Bengali words and phrases
Government of British India
Government of the Mughal Empire
Historians from the Mughal Empire
Indian surnames
Hindu surnames
Kashmiri tribes
Kashmiri-language surnames
Urdu-language words and phrases
Titles in Bangladesh