Munshi

History

During the Mughal Empire, Munshi (Persian: منشی) came to be used as a respected title for persons who achieved mastery over language and politics in the Indian subcontinent.^[1]

Use in Bengal

The surname "Munshi" (Bengali: মুন্সি) is used by both Bengali Hindu and Bengali Muslim families in West Bengal, India and in Bangladesh. The surname is commonly associated with former Zamindari families in Bengal from the time of the Nawabs of Bengal in the early 18th-century.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

Former estate of Munshibari family of Ulipur in Northern Bangladesh.

Use in Kashmir

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.^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]

Notable people

Aditi Munshi (born 1988), Indian singer and politician
A. F. M. Fakhrul Islam Munshi (1947-2023), Bangladeshi politician
Annada Munshi (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
Ibrahim Munshi (1934–2003), Sindhi-language Poet
Iskandar Beg Munshi (1561-1633), Iranian historian
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
Muhammad Sadeq Ali (1798-1862), Bengali district judge and most well-known writer to have used the Sylheti Nagri script
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 Haidar Hossain, Faujdar of Munshiganj
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 Siddique Ahmad (1924–2011), Bangladeshi rice scientist
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

Other

Munshigiri, Bangladeshi film

Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum of Central Asian and Kargil Trade Artefacts, Public Museum in Kargil
Munshi Pulia metro station, metro station
Munshi Premchand Mahavidyalaya, college
Munshiganj District, a district of Bangladesh

References

^ Alam, Muzaffar; Subrahmanyam, Sanjay (2004-08-01). "The Making of a Munshi". Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. 24 (2): 61–72. doi:10.1215/1089201X-24-2-61. ISSN 1089-201X.
^ "Munshibari Estate: Quiet and isolated". Daily Sun. 2014-10-26.
^ Motilal, Anup; Bandopadhyay, Ranjankumar (1991). Baranagar: Itihas O Samikshya.
^ Wahed, Abdul (October 27, 2007). "Visiting the Munshibari at Ulipur". The Daily Star.
^ "Santanu Ghosh: মুন্সিয়ানায় চল্লিশ পুরুষ (in Bengali)">Santanu Ghosh. "Munshianay Chollis Purush" Publisher: Dey's Publishing
^ Begum, Ayesha (2002). পাবনার ঐতিহাসিক ইমারত.
^ Lawrence, Sir Walter Roper (2005). The Valley of Kashmir. Asian Educational Services. p. 304. ISBN 978-81-206-1630-1. Among the leading Krams may be mentioned the following names:— Tikku, Razdan, Kak, Munshi, Mathu, Kachru, Pandit, Sapru, Bhan, Zitshu, Raina, Dar, Fotadar, Madan, Thusu, Wangnu, Muju, Hokhu, and Dulu.
^ Agrawal, Premendra (August 20, 2014). Accursed & Jihadi Neighbour. Commercial Services. p. 86. ISBN 9788193051207. Retrieved April 5, 2023. Meaning of surnames found on the Kashmiri Pandit tree: Bakaya, Sapru, Bakshi, Munshi, Wazir, Chalkbast, Bhan, Langar or Langroo, Wattal, Bazaz, Taimini, Mattu, Chak, Zalpuri, Khar, Hazari, Zutshi, Razdan, Tikhu, Kathju, sopori, Thussoo, Haksar, Raina, Waloo or Wali, Wantu/Wanchu, Gamkhwar, Kakh, Mushran, Sharga, Handoo, Gurtu, Kitchlu, and Ganjoo.
^ Pandit, Bansi. Explore Kashmiri Pandits. Dharma Publications. ISBN 9780963479860. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
^ Kaul, Upendra (September 4, 2020). "My name is Khan, and I'm Kaul". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved April 5, 2023. Similarly, Mirza, Dhar or Dar, Bhat, Akhoon, Chakoo, Durrani, Kachroo, Draboo, Kaloo, Kanna, Kaw, Khar, Khuda, Kitchloo, Munshi, Machama, Mirza, Padar, Parimoo and Raina are a few typical surnames that are used by both Hindus, and Muslims of Kashmir.
^ Ahmad, Khalid Bashir (June 23, 2017). Kashmir: Exposing the Myth Behind the Narrative. SAGE Publishing. ISBN 9789386062819. Retrieved April 5, 2023. One would come across among Muslims of Kashmir any number of surnames that are equally common among the Pandits. Among these are Bhat, Raina, Nath, Langoo, Malla, Bazaz, Saraf, Munshi, Watal, Wali, Khar, Shangloo, Nehru, Gagar, Kharoo, Aga, Jalali, Peer, Pandit, Parimoo and Mattoo.

External links

[1] Alam, Muzaffar; Subrahmanyam, Sanjay (2004-08-01). "The Making of a Munshi". Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. 24 (2): 61–72. doi:10.1215/1089201X-24-2-61. ISSN 1089-201X.

[2] "Munshibari Estate: Quiet and isolated". Daily Sun. 2014-10-26.

[3] Motilal, Anup; Bandopadhyay, Ranjankumar (1991). Baranagar: Itihas O Samikshya.

[4] Wahed, Abdul (October 27, 2007). "Visiting the Munshibari at Ulipur". The Daily Star.

[5] "Santanu Ghosh: মুন্সিয়ানায় চল্লিশ পুরুষ (in Bengali)">Santanu Ghosh. "Munshianay Chollis Purush" Publisher: Dey's Publishing

[6] Begum, Ayesha (2002). পাবনার ঐতিহাসিক ইমারত.

[7] Lawrence, Sir Walter Roper (2005). The Valley of Kashmir. Asian Educational Services. p. 304. ISBN 978-81-206-1630-1. Among the leading Krams may be mentioned the following names:— Tikku, Razdan, Kak, Munshi, Mathu, Kachru, Pandit, Sapru, Bhan, Zitshu, Raina, Dar, Fotadar, Madan, Thusu, Wangnu, Muju, Hokhu, and Dulu.

[8] Agrawal, Premendra (August 20, 2014). Accursed & Jihadi Neighbour. Commercial Services. p. 86. ISBN 9788193051207. Retrieved April 5, 2023. Meaning of surnames found on the Kashmiri Pandit tree: Bakaya, Sapru, Bakshi, Munshi, Wazir, Chalkbast, Bhan, Langar or Langroo, Wattal, Bazaz, Taimini, Mattu, Chak, Zalpuri, Khar, Hazari, Zutshi, Razdan, Tikhu, Kathju, sopori, Thussoo, Haksar, Raina, Waloo or Wali, Wantu/Wanchu, Gamkhwar, Kakh, Mushran, Sharga, Handoo, Gurtu, Kitchlu, and Ganjoo.

[Bansi_Pandit-9] Pandit, Bansi. Explore Kashmiri Pandits. Dharma Publications. ISBN 9780963479860. Retrieved 2023-06-04.

[10] Kaul, Upendra (September 4, 2020). "My name is Khan, and I'm Kaul". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved April 5, 2023. Similarly, Mirza, Dhar or Dar, Bhat, Akhoon, Chakoo, Durrani, Kachroo, Draboo, Kaloo, Kanna, Kaw, Khar, Khuda, Kitchloo, Munshi, Machama, Mirza, Padar, Parimoo and Raina are a few typical surnames that are used by both Hindus, and Muslims of Kashmir.

[11] Ahmad, Khalid Bashir (June 23, 2017). Kashmir: Exposing the Myth Behind the Narrative. SAGE Publishing. ISBN 9789386062819. Retrieved April 5, 2023. One would come across among Muslims of Kashmir any number of surnames that are equally common among the Pandits. Among these are Bhat, Raina, Nath, Langoo, Malla, Bazaz, Saraf, Munshi, Watal, Wali, Khar, Shangloo, Nehru, Gagar, Kharoo, Aga, Jalali, Peer, Pandit, Parimoo and Mattoo.

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