Abdul Karim (the Munshi)

Hafiz Abdul Karim, CIE, CVO (* 1863 in Jhansi; ? † 1909 in Agra ), better known as Munshi ( about Urdu teacher, priest ) was an Indian servant of Queen Victoria.

The Munshi was one of two Indian servants that were taken on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of 1887 in the royal household and first worked as a servant for the dining room. The Queen summed up very quickly affection for him, and probably after he had told her that he had been a teacher in India at home and had the physical work of a servant beneath his dignity, he was rapidly promoted to "the Queen's Munshi ". He gave her voice lessons in Hindustani and Urdu and taught them Indian customs. In later years he was the secretary of the Indian Queen (not to be confused with the cabinet post " Indian State ").

The Munshi saw how he could take advantage of his position as a favorite of the queen. Thus, he moved to the resentment of the court. He brought his wife and other family members from India to Britain, where they lived on royal costs. He exaggerated what his background was concerned, by saying that his father was a doctor in the Indian Army. In fact, this was only a traditional healer in the prison of Agra. When the queen was confronted, she defended her favorites.

Victoria's advisers were also concerned because of his association with Rafiuddin Ahmed, an Indian politician who was based in London and ran for Parliament. They feared that Ahmed was able to gain access to confidential information by the Munshi. There is no indication that this concern would have been entitled, or that the Munshi had ever been indiscreet up to Victoria's death. He would then have to quite had the opportunity, because he brought and burned Victoria's correspondence.

The Queen appointed him in 1885 Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1899 and Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. She rewarded him with land in Agra and also brought him and his family in Balmoral, Windsor and Osborne House Cottages below. They also let go of the painter Rudolf Swoboda two portraits of him make.

After the death of the Queen, her son exiled King Edward VII, the Munshi and his family from the court and ordered to send them back to India. The king allowed the Munshi but a last look at the Queen, before the coffin was closed, and to participate in the funeral procession.

After his return to India until his death in 1909, the Munshi lived in his home in Agra Karim Lodge.