Munshi

This article is about the Indian use of the word "Munshi". For the West African tribe, sometimes known as the Munshi, see Tiv people.

Portrait of Abdul Karim (the Munshi) by Rudolf Swoboda.

Munshi (Hindustani: मुंशी (Devanagari), مُنشی (Nastaleeq)) was the Hindi-Urdu name of a contractor, writer or secretary, used in Mughal Empire and later British India of the native language teachers or secretaries employed by Europeans.^[1]

Since in British India Munshies were hired as clerks in the government, the word Munshi also became the name of profession. The Munshies worked as accountants and secretaries as well. The family name Munshi belongs to people whose families were in the profession of Munshi and hence were respected as literate people.

Today Munshi is also a degree in South Asia, that is given after passing a certain course for example basic reading, writing, and maths. The advanced degree was Munshi Fazil or Munshi Fadhil. Munshi is also a title that a graduate of Munshi course is allowed to attach to his name.

Abdul Karim, known as "The Munshi" was an especially valued and respected Indian servant of Queen Victoria.

Etymology

Munshi (Persian منشی) is a Persian word and it was given as an honorary title to a person who has achieved a mastery over languages, especially in British India. It became a surname to those people whose ancestors had received this title. In modern Persian this word is also used to address clerks and secretaries, so they also use it as their surname.

See also

• Premchand
• Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi
• Munshi Abdur Rouf
• Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir

References

1. ^  Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Munshi". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.