Born: 30 Dec 1887
Died: 8 Feb 1971
Sri. Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi was a politician, educationist, writer, and activist in the Indian Independence Movement. Munshi Ji was born on 30th December 1887 in the Gujarat state of British India. He was popularly known by his pen name Ghanshyam Vyas. He completed his graduation in Bachelor of Arts from Baroda College in 1902, scoring first-class marks. Along with a Bachelor’s Degree, he also won an “Elite Prize” for scoring maximum marks in the English Language. In 1910, he secured his LLB Degree in Mumbai and registered in Bombay High Court. Sri Aurobindo Gosh was one of his professors at Baroda College.
Munshi Ji also had a great impact on Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Bhulabhai Desai, and Maharaj Sayajirao Gaekwad III. He was attracted to the Revolutionary Group and got involved in Bomb-making which was due to the influence of Sri Aurobindo Gosh. In 1915, he joined Indian Home Rule Movement, settled in Mumbai, and became secretary of the Bombay Presidency Association. In 1920, he got influenced by Ahemdabad’s President Surendranath Banerjee, after attending the Annual Congress Session. In 1930, he participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement and initially got arrested for six months. Being a member of the second part of the movement he was again arrested and spent two years in jail. Munshi Ji became the Home Minister of Bombay Presidency and during his tenure, he conquered communal riots in Bombay. After taking part in Individual Satyagraha Munshi Ji was again arrested in 1940.
Since 1923, Munshi Ji was planning to give an institutional foundation to his ideas and ideals, and finally on 7 November 1938, along with Harshidbhai Divatia and his wife Lilavati Munshi, he successfully established Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan at Andheri, Bombay. Later, he also established Mumbadevi Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, where students were taught about Sanskrit and Ancient Hindu Texts. Along with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, he also established several other schools and colleges. Munshiji was also active in establishing the Department of Chemical Technology. He served as Institute of Agriculture’s Chairman, Trustee at Birla Educational Trust, Executive Chairman of Indian Law Institute, etc.
Munshi Ji was a creative writer in languages such as Gujarati and English and earned a reputation as one of the Greatest Literary Figures of Gujarat. Bhargava, a Gujarati Monthly was also started by him. Munshi Ji is popularly known for his Gujarati Historical Novels, such as Patan-ni-Prabhuta (The Greatness of Patan), Gujarat-no-Nath (The Ruler of Gujarat), etc.
