Portrait of the Munshi by Rudolf Swoboda

Hafiz Abdul Karim CIE (1863?-1909), better known as "the Munshi" (teacher), was an Indian servant of Queen Victoria who gained her affection in the final fifteen years of her reign. Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819–22 January 1901) was a Queen of the United Kingdom, reigning from 20 June 1837 until her death. ...

The Munshi was one of two Indian servants brought over to mark Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887. The Munshi was initially a dining room waiter. The Queen took a great liking to him, and, after he supposedly alleged that he had been a clerk at home and thus menial work as a waiter was beneath him[1], he was soon promoted to the unique rank of "the Queen's Munshi"--he gave her Hindustani and Urdu language lessons[2], and taught her of Indian customs. In later years, he became first Personal Indian Clerk to the Queen, and later her Indian Secretary (not to be confused with the Cabinet office of Secretary of State for India). A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary of a monarchs reign. ... The word Hindustani is an adjective used to denote a connection to India, or, more precisely, the historical region that encompasses Northern India, Pakistan, and nearby areas. ... The phrase Zaban-e Urdu-e Mualla written in Urdu Urdu () is an Indo-European language of the Indo-Aryan family that developed under Persian, Turkish, and Arabic influence in South Asia during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire (1200-1800). ... The office of Secretary of State for India or India Secretary was created in 1858 when India was brought under direct British rule (British Raj). ...

There can be little doubt that the Munshi took advantage of his position as the Queen's favorite, causing resentment from the court.[3] He brought his wife and other family members from India to Britain, where they were settled at Royal expense. He exaggerated his origins, saying that his father was a doctor in the Indian Army, when he was in fact a native healer to the jail at Agra. When confronted with this, the Queen defended her favorite. Victoria's advisors also feared his association with Rafiuddin Ahmed, an Indian politician resident in London and candidate for Parliament, fearing that Ahmed would extract confidential information from the Munshi.[4] There is no indication that their fears were realized, or that the Munshi was ever indiscreet. (even after Victoria's death, for he burned their correspondence) For other uses, see Agra (disambiguation). ...

The Queen showered him with honors, including making him a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire.[5]. She awarded him land in Agra[6] and lodged him and his family in cottages at Balmoral, Windsor and Osborne House. The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Victoria in 1877. ... Osborne House and its grounds are now open to the public Osborne House is a former royal residence in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK. // History The house was built between 1845 and 1851 for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. ...

After the Queen's death, her son, King Edward VII dismissed the Munshi and his relations from his court and had his officials send them back to India. The Munshi returned to his home in Agra, Karim Lodge, where he lived until his 1909 death.[7] Edward VII King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Emperor of India His Majesty King Edward VII (9 November 1841–6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of the Commonwealth realms, and the Emperor of India. ...