Munshi Sadasukh Lal
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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 ...
.


See also

* Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir * Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi * Munshi Abdur Rouf *
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 * Mohan Lal Kashmiri


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