Southie
November 22, 2012, 8:00pm
23
Re: Which British monarch…
There is a book written by famous Pakistani writer and BBC Urdu broadcaster Raza Ali Abidi on this topic.
Karim was born near Jhansi in British India, the son of a hospital assistant. In 1887, Victoria’s Golden Jubilee year, Karim was one of two Indians selected to become servants to the Queen. Victoria came to like him a great deal and gave him the title of “Munshi”, an Urdu word often translated as “clerk” or “teacher”. Victoria appointed him her Indian Secretary, showered him with honours, and obtained a land grant for him in India.
The close relationship between Karim and the Queen led to friction within the Royal Household, the other members of which felt themselves to be superior to him. The Queen insisted on taking Karim with her on her travels, which caused arguments between her and her attendants. Following Victoria’s death in 1901, her successor, Edward VII, returned Karim to India and ordered the confiscation and destruction of the Munshi’s correspondence with Victoria. Karim subsequently lived quietly near Agra, on the estate that Victoria had arranged for him, until his death at the age of 46.
Abdul Karim (the Munshi) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yes I knew munshi is a title - always thought it was rooted in Hindi. In old Hindi movies all munshis were Hindus! So I associated ( wrongly) this word with Hindus.