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Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi, the founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was born at Broach on December 30, 1887 to Tapiben and Maneklal. While studying at Baroda College in 1904, he came under the direct influence of Sri Aurobindo. A prize winner at the B.A. and L.L.B. examinations, Munshi enrolled himself as a pleader on the Appellate side of the Bombay High Court in 1910, and as an advocate on the Original side in 1913. He joined Annie Besant's All India Home Rule League in 1916 and became a member of the subjects committee of the Indian National Congress in 1917. In 1920, Munshi resigned from both the Congress and the Home Rule League to devote himself to literary activities and his legal work as a lawyer.
Munshi was elected to the Bombay Legislative Council in 1927, where he piloted, among other measures, the Bombay University Bill. Rejoining the Congress in 1930, he took part in the Salt Satyagraha and was imprisoned for six months. In 1932, he was sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment. Elected to Bombay Legislative Assembly in 1937, he was appointed the Home Minister in the first Congress Government. Kulapati K.M. Munshi founded the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on 8th November, 1938 to propagate the values of Indian culture. He devoted all his energies to the building up of the Bhavan as one of the best cultural institutions of the country, and made it not just an institution but a movement, a mission. As Dr. Radhakrishnan said: "The Bhavan is the greatest monument of his life". President Venkataraman described the Bhavan as the "Somnath of learning to be the torch-bearer of the fundamental values of Indian culture, Rita, Satya, Yagna and Tapas. Dharma he conceived to be compounded of three aspects ¬'Sat yam', 'Shivam', 'Sundaram' (Truth, Love and Beauty)." Munshiji was closely associated with many cultural, literary, social and academic bodies during the period 1943 to 1947. Dr. Munshi served as India's Agent-General in Hyderabad during the crucial days of the Nizam's hostile posture (backed by Razakar terrorism). After the police action, he became a member of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India in 1948. He was the Food and Agriculture Minister of the Govenrment of India in 1950 and in 1952 became the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. After 1957 he resigned from the Congress and was elected the Vice-President of the Swatantra Party.
Dr. K.M. Munshi was 'a man of great ideas and great courage', 'a multi-faceted genius'. This great lawyer. constitution-maker, administrator and champion of Indian culture passed away on 8th February. 1971.
The stamp depicts K.M. Munshi and a tree, symbolising his interest in the Van Mahotsav. The first day cover shows him against a background of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The stamp is designed by India Security Press, Nashik Road, the first day cover by Sankha Samantha and the cancellation by Alka Sharma.