munshi

Munshi is a title and surname used in the Indian subcontinent. The term derives from the Persian munshī, meaning secretary or scribe, and is used across Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, and related languages to denote a literate official or clerk.

Historically, a munshi served in imperial and court administrations as a secretary who drafted letters, maintained records, handled accounts, and translated between Persian and local languages. In the Mughal era such officials were essential to central governance; during British rule in India, munshis performed similar clerical and translation duties in government offices, courts, and revenue departments. The rank and function varied by region and era, but the core role as a literate administrator remained consistent.

With time, Munshi became a hereditary or occupational surname in many communities, adopted by families whose ancestors held the clerical role. Today, it persists as a last name and, less commonly, as a given part of a name. In modern contexts the term can appear in archival references, business names, and cultural histories of South Asia.

Notable people bearing the surname include writers, scholars, politicians, and professionals, reflecting the historical prominence of literacy and administration in the region.