K. M. Munshi

K. M. Munshi
Munshi in his early sixties.
Born	30 December 1887 Broach, Gujarat, India
Died	8 February 1971(1971-02-08) (aged 83) Bombay, India
Occupation	Freedom fighter, politician, lawyer, writer
Known for	Founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (1938) Home Minister of Bombay State (1937–40) Agent-General of India in Hyderabad State (1948) Member of the Constituent Assembly of India Member of Parliament Minister for Agriculture & Food (1952–53) Governor of Uttar Pradesh (1952–57)
Political party	Swaraj Party, Indian National Congress, Swatantra Party, Jan Sangh
Spouse(s)	Atilakshmi Pathak, Leelavati Sheth
Children	Jagadish Munshi, Sarla Sheth, Usha Raghupathi, Lata Munshi, Girish Munshi

Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi (30 December 1887 – 8 February 1971), popularly known as K. M. Munshi, was an Indian independence movement activist, politician, writer and educationist from Gujarat state. A lawyer by profession, he later turned to literature and politics. He was a well-known name in Gujarati literature. He founded Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, an educational trust, in 1938.

K. M. Munshi was born on 30 December 1887 in the town of Bharuch in Gujarat. He had his school education in R.S Dalal High School in Bharuch. He was educated further in Vadodara (Baroda), where he excelled in academics. One of his teachers at Baroda College was Sri Aurobindo Ghosh who had a profound impression on him. Munshi was also greatly influenced by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and Bhulabhai Desai.

Munshi was a prolific writer in Gujarati and English, earning a reputation as one of Gujarat's greatest literary figures. He was also a barrister and an eminent jurist.

Munshi was an active participant in the Indian Independence Movement ever since the advent of Mahatma Gandhi. He joined the Swaraj Party but returned to the Indian National Congress on Gandhiji's behest with the launch of the Salt Satyagraha in 1930. He was arrested several times, including during the Quit India Movement of 1942. A great admirer of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Munshi served in the Central Legislative Assembly in the 1930s.