For years, the British royal family hid the story of Queen Victoria and her Indian servant, Abdul Karim, who had become his closest assistant and friend. The relationship between the two was so controversial and scandalous to members of the royal family that after his death, the Queen’s children demanded that all letters be burned and that Karim’s references be removed from his diary to make it disappear. any trace of royal history.
A hundred years later, a journalist named Shrabani Basu noticed a clue during his visit to Queen Victoria’s summer residence. From this incredible discovery was born her controversial relationship with Karim.
How did Queen Victoria and Abdul meet?
According to journalist Shrabani Basu, Queen Victoria had shown great interest in the Indian territories and during his visit to this country in 1887, he specifically requested the assistance of Indian personnel in serving the banquet held for heads of state. Karim and another Indian servant were chosen and presented to the Queen as a “gift from India” for her Golden Jubilee (50 years of reign). Since then, Karim has worked for the monarch for 14 years.
The queen wrote in her diary her first impression of Karim upon meeting him: “he is tall and with a magnificent serious face.” His first job was to serving as aide and personal assistant to the Queenbut little by little, his role in Victoria’s life transformed into something much more important.
Abdul Karim became the interpreter of the queen and, in turn, her teacher in everything related to Indian culture. Victoria, fascinated by India since her youth, found in Karim a companion capable of teaching her the customs, traditions and language of his vast empire.
How did the unusual friendship between the queen and her Indian servant begin?
The first time Karim served the Queen after her arrival in Britain was on June 23, 1887, at breakfast time at Frogmore House in Windsor. But it was not until August 20 of the same year that Karim managed to impress the queen with his cooking skillsby making chicken curry with dal and pilaf. According to Victoria’s biographer AN Wilson, the Queen liked this dish so much that she added it to her regular menu.
The queen, increasingly interested in Indian culture, asks Karim to teach her Urdu. or known as Hindustani, to be able to speak to his servants. This led to a closer relationship with her Karim, who also received English lessons by order of the Queen. Shortly after, Karim was promoted to “Munshi and Indian Clerk to the Queen Empress,” and then to highly decorated secretary.
Beyond his curiosity for Indian culture, the reason why the queen showed a particular interest in Karim It was because, unlike the others, he innocently treated her like a human being and not like the queen. The journalist Basu says that he was always there to listen to him and that he spoke to him a lot about India and his family.
Was it the relationship between the two?
According to Basu, The queen wrote a series of letters calling Karim “your loving mother” and “your closest friend.”. On some occasions, the Queen even said goodbye to him in her letters with a burst of kisses, which was very unusual at that time.
For the journalist, The relationship between the queen and her servant Karim was passionate, but from a platonic and maternal point of view. After the deaths of her husband Alberto and her confidant John Brown, Karim became a close friend, someone she could trust and learn from.
Close friendship with the queen, allowed Abdul to carry a sword and wear medals at Court and having the privilege of accompanying Victoria on her trips to Europe. Karim’s family was also entertained by the monarch, as they were allowed to travel from India to England.
When Karim gets married, Victoria invites his wife to join him in England. In addition, he provided them with homes on important royal estates in the United Kingdom and land in India. All these attentions generated great discontent within the royal family, as well as among military personnel, who displayed racial and social prejudice.
Shortly before his death, The queen asked that Karim be part of the funeral procession and that he keep the properties she had given him.. However, the royal court only allowed Karim to participate in the funeral procession because one of the queen’s sons, Edward VII, ordered him to return to India immediately and stripped him of his possessions.
Conclusion
The friendship between Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim is a reminder that beyond the social norms and expectations of the time, love and friendship can arise in the most unexpected places. Their relationship defied convention and left a lasting impact on history, showing that cultural barriers can be overcome when there is a genuine desire for connection and understanding.
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