<p>Karim, whom the widowed Queen fondly called 'dearest Munshi', was one of the two Indian servants who was sent to Britain to help her address the Indian princes during her Golden Jubilee celebrations in 1887.<br /><br />He served the Queen for over 13 years and was sent back to India in 1901, soon after her death at the age of 81, by the new king, Edward VII. Also, all the letters and note that the late Queen had written to him were taken and destroyed.<br />Eight years after being sent back to India, Karim died at the age of 46.<br /><br />Karim had become Queen's favourite in a very short duration by narrating to her stories of India, serving Indian dishes and assisting her with official correspondence.<br />He was appointed the Munshi -- teacher to the Queen -- after she decided to learn the language of the country she ruled, according to the book "Victoria And Abdul: The True Story Of The Queen's Closest Confidant" by Shrabani Basu.<br />With time as his English improved, the Queen started confiding in him more and more.<br /><br />She had so much confidence on Karim that she used to discuss the content of every letter she sent and take his advice on various matters, the Daily Mail reported.<br />Aware of her fondness for him, Karim threatened the Queen that he would return to India and got himself promoted as a full member of the Royal Household, says the book published by The History Press.<br /><br />He even got a special pension for his father and a grant of land in India for himself from which he could receive an income, sanctioned by the Queen.<br />But behind all this, the Queen's affection for the young Indian 40 years younger to her was maternal rather than romantic. When Karim fell ill she would attend him herself. When he returned to India for his annual leave she wrote to him daily.<br />But the manner in which Karim was sent back to India and all the letters written by Queen to him were destroyed, soon after her death, was a sad and bitter end to a most unusual relationship that had brought comfort to a lonely Empress in the twilight years of her reign, the book said.</p>
<p>Karim, whom the widowed Queen fondly called 'dearest Munshi', was one of the two Indian servants who was sent to Britain to help her address the Indian princes during her Golden Jubilee celebrations in 1887.<br /><br />He served the Queen for over 13 years and was sent back to India in 1901, soon after her death at the age of 81, by the new king, Edward VII. Also, all the letters and note that the late Queen had written to him were taken and destroyed.<br />Eight years after being sent back to India, Karim died at the age of 46.<br /><br />Karim had become Queen's favourite in a very short duration by narrating to her stories of India, serving Indian dishes and assisting her with official correspondence.<br />He was appointed the Munshi -- teacher to the Queen -- after she decided to learn the language of the country she ruled, according to the book "Victoria And Abdul: The True Story Of The Queen's Closest Confidant" by Shrabani Basu.<br />With time as his English improved, the Queen started confiding in him more and more.<br /><br />She had so much confidence on Karim that she used to discuss the content of every letter she sent and take his advice on various matters, the Daily Mail reported.<br />Aware of her fondness for him, Karim threatened the Queen that he would return to India and got himself promoted as a full member of the Royal Household, says the book published by The History Press.<br /><br />He even got a special pension for his father and a grant of land in India for himself from which he could receive an income, sanctioned by the Queen.<br />But behind all this, the Queen's affection for the young Indian 40 years younger to her was maternal rather than romantic. When Karim fell ill she would attend him herself. When he returned to India for his annual leave she wrote to him daily.<br />But the manner in which Karim was sent back to India and all the letters written by Queen to him were destroyed, soon after her death, was a sad and bitter end to a most unusual relationship that had brought comfort to a lonely Empress in the twilight years of her reign, the book said.</p>