Munshi

Munshi is a Persian word, originally used for a contractor, writer, or secretary, and later used in Mughal India 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.

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 royalty and are regarded as nobility.

Administrators, head of departments, accountants, and secretaries hired by the government in British India were known as Munshies.

Abdul Karim, known as "the Munshi", was a highly valued and respected Indian attendant of Queen Victoria.

It originates from families who were historically appointed as Munshis or had inherited the title as an honorary distinction from their ancestors.