Dr. Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi, the founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was philosopher in action, a man of great ideas and great courage and a multi-faceted genius. The versatility of Munshiji is seen in his role as lawyer, creative writer, constitution-maker, freedom fighter, administrator, organization-builder and champion of Indian culture. Dr. Munshi looked upon himself as a "sea shell thrown up by the mighty flood of Indian renaissance."

He founded the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan along with a few friends late in 1938. He said, "We, the Bhavan's family, whether it is the smaller one or the larger one, must make every effort in restoring an awareness of these values-Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram-Truth, Love and Beauty-in personal and collective life." The Bhavan, in the words of Dr. Radhakrishnan, is the greatest monument of Munshi's life.

Till his death in 1971 he devoted all his energies to the building up of the Bhavan as the premier cultural organization of the country.