A normal family trip by writer Shrabani Basu to the Isle of Wight’s Osborne House has now resulted in a film starring Judi Dench. Amazing isn’t it? Basu stumbled upon a secret that was untold since Queen Victoria’s death and decided to write a book about it. The book Victoria & Abdul has now emerged as a film which releases in India this weekend.
The film like the book explores the unusual relationship between Queen Victoria and her Indian servant Abdul Karim who became her closest friend and confidant.
Here’s a brief chat with the author:
How did you stumble upon the untold story of Abdul Karim and his relationship with Queen Victoria?
Shrabani Basu: I knew from a previous book on the history of curries in Britain that Queen Victoria liked her curries and that she had some Indian servants. But it was on a trip to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight which was Queen Victoria’s holiday home that I saw a portrait of Karim in the Indian corridor. He was painted in red and cream and gold and was holding a book. He looked like a nawab not a servant. I then found more of his photographs around the house and one just below that of John Brown in the Queen’s dressing room. I knew then that he was somebody special and I wanted to know more about him. It took four years to complete the research and I traveled to three countries, India, Pakistan and Britain, but it was worth it.
What was the process that you went through to dig up more information on Abdul Karim, it must have been a very difficult and painstaking process?
Shrabani Basu: It was a real painstaking process as most of the letters had been burnt by her son and heir Edward VII. I started in Windsor Castle where I read Queen Victoria’s Journals and her Hindustani Journals. These had never been opened or accessed by any historian. I read all thirteen volumes and it brought the relationship alive before my eyes. I then went to Agra to find his grave and trace his family. No one had heard of him in Agra. It took three days to find his grave which was overrun with brambles. I also put the story together through the private letters and journals of the members of the Royal Household, The diaries of the Queen’s personal physician were a major source as he kept detailed records. There were letters between the Viceroy of India and Queen Victoria in the British Library which were important. There were also newspaper reports of the day. I found records in the archives in Agra. Finally through his descendants, I found Karim’s lost diary in Karachi. That was the icing on the cake. I could get the whole picture, including Karim’s own voice.
So this Indian clerk who was gifted as an ordinary help to the Queen became her closest confidante - how was this conclusion reached and how did Abdul win that trust?
Shrabani Basu: She promoted him to be her Munshi or teacher and gave him a position equal to that of the Household. She gave him land in Agra, houses in Windsor, Osborne and Balmoral and awarded him many titles. Even his father was made Khan Bahadur. His family were invited to England. Within a year of his arrival, at the age of 25, he had already become the Munshi. His position in the court kept growing over the years.
Since you have seen the letters written between Queen Victoria and Abdul - what do you think was the nature of their relationship, you have stressed that it wasn’t sexual at all but it was more than friendship?
Shrabani Basu: They were not lovers, though the physical side was important for Victoria. She liked to have a tall strong man standing beside her and caring for her. Abdul had the same physical profile as John Brown. Both men were commoners. They crossed the barrier of formality and protocol and treated Victoria like a human being rather than just the Queen. He was her closest friend, her confidant and also like her son. The relationship worked at several levels.
How much of your understanding about what transpired between Queen Victoria and Abdul is based on facts and evidence, and how much of it would be informed assumption?
Shrabani Basu: Everything is based on fact. My book has elaborate footnotes and sources.
How did you discover Abdul’s relatives and what more insight did they add to what you knew about the man?
Shrabani Basu: The relatives contacted me after the first edition of the book was published. I had been looking for them for four years. They were delighted that I had given his side of the story and restored his place in history. And they trusted me enough to show me his diary. I revised my book for the paperback edition which was published in 2011.
How much of a say did you have in the screenplay of the film and did you have a wishlist for who should be cast for the role of Abdul?
Shrabani Basu: I was a consultant on the film or historical details, Indian costumes, art scenes etc. I had no role in the casting. That is best left to the director and producer who know what they are looking for. It is a stellar cast. Stephen Frears was determined to cast someone from India and chose Ali Fazal after several auditions. He is very good in the film.
What were the reactions you got for the film at it’s premiere in Venice? Tell us both the good and the bad.
Shrabani Basu: The reactions in Venice and Toronto were amazing. In Toronto we got three standing ovations. The shows were completely sold out and the audience absolutely loved it. They were cheering for Judi all the way. The film has done very well at the box office. It is in its fourth week in Britain.
Are you looking forward to how the Indian critics are going to react to the film?
Shrabani Basu: I am very much looking forward to seeing how the people in India react to it. India is after all, where the story began. I believe advance tickets are being snapped up at the box office.
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