She was the Queen of Great Britain. He was a dining room waiter in India. The story of a 'love affair' between Queen Victoria and Hafiz Abdul Karim aka Munshi has fascinated historians. They say he was very handsome and polite. The moment Queen Victoria saw him she fell for him. She got him transferred from India to London and promoted him to her 'Indian Secretary'. He taught her Urdu and recited the legendary poet Ghalib. She asked the Austrian painter Rudolf Swoboda to draw a portrait of Abdul Karim, writes Pervaiz Alam about a film "Queen Victoria's Men" that captures glimpses of Karim-Victoria story.
Queen Victoria at 66 around the time when she noticed Karim's charmsContrary to her sombre public reputation, in private Queen Victoria was a passionate romantic and a feisty politician, says Channel 4. Film "Queen Victoria's Men," is a part of 'Victorian Passions'- a 4-programme season on Queen Victoria, to be transmitted Monday, June 2, 2008. The other three films are:
Victorian Sex Explorer: Actor Rupert Everett undertakes a revealing and witty journey retracing the steps of one of his great heroes – the infamous Victorian explorer and sexual whirlwind, Sir Richard Burton.
Dickens' Double Life: The story of Charles Dickens – perhaps the greatest Victorian of them all – the great, hidden love of his life and the impact of this obsession on his life and work.
Upstairs Downstairs Love: The remarkable real-life story of barrister Arthur Munby who risked all in pursuit an erotic obsession with his maid-servant, Hannah Cullwick.
Queen Victoria's Men
Victoria’s Men presents a seldom-seen side of Queen Victoria, both in childhood and then as a young queen. Through diaries and letters it explores the way her early life shaped the intense and complex relationships she was to have with men throughout her political and private life, says Channel 4.
The real picture of Victoria could hardly be further from the dowdy, buttoned-up and forbidding image of the popular imagination. An intensely romantic wife as well as a fierce and effective politician, the programme highlights how Victoria both loved men and needed to be loved by them in return, not only as a queen, but as a woman in her own right. And privately, she revelled in her sexuality.
Victoria was born at Kensington Palace, London, on 24 May 1819. She was the only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III. Her father died shortly after her birth and she became heir to the throne because the three uncles who were ahead of her in succession - George IV, Frederick Duke of York, and William IV - had no legitimate children who survived.
Warmhearted and lively, Victoria had a gift for drawing and painting; educated by a governess at home, she was a natural diarist and kept a regular journal throughout her life. On William IV's death in 1837, she became Queen at the age of 18.
Queen Victoria is associated with Britain's great age of industrial expansion, economic progress and, especially, empire. At her death, it was said, Britain had a worldwide empire on which the sun never set.
Hafiz Abdul Karim- the khaansaama
Abdul Karim aka 'Munshi' painted by Rudolf Swoboda In 1887, Hafiz Abdul Karim was brought to Britain as a dining room waiter (khaansaama) to serve Queen Victoria. 'She liked him' would be an understatement. She made him her Munshi, and later promoted him to become her 'Indian Secretary'. He taught her Urdu and made her well versed in Indian manners. "He is a very strict master and a perfect gentleman," she wrote.
Historians suggest every body close to the Queen knew about her special relationship with Karim. In fact, English courtesans despised him for being so close to their Queen.
The Queen commissioned Austrian painter Rudolf Swoboda to paint some of her favourites. Of course, Karim was among them. In 1888 and 1889, Swoboda painted two portraits of Karim.
Karim stayed with Queen Victoria at Balmoral, Windsor and Osborne House. Some historians say after the Queen's death, her son, King Edward VII kicked him out. Karim's last request was to see the dead queen before the casket was closed. The wish was granted.
British officials were scared of the rumours and repercussions. So they deported him to distant Somalia. Karim died in 1909.