Victoria and Abdul: Shrabani Basu
This is a story of Abdul, Munshi to Queen Victoria- then Empress of India, story of rags to riches-rags.

Abdul, started off his career with the Queen as her khidmatgar but scaled to the heights of being a Munshi to the Queen Victoria.

Storyline revolves around howthe Queen Victoria pampered Abdul and then, how Abdul used love and affection of the Queen to his benefit and to the jealousy of his fellow countrymen in service of the Queen.

Abdul was the only Indian who was ever permitted to open confidential letters of the Queen. 

Queen Victoria, in her letter of her daughter-in-law , Louise, Duchess of Connaught, dated 3 November, 1888, acknowledged the fact the she was very fond of Abdul and he is good, gentle and understanding & real comfort to her.

A great book about: “The Durbar of The Queen” and “The Hostility of Royal Family towards Abdul”.

After the death of the Queen, Royal Family turned against Abdul and Abdul was evicted from the Royal Place and came to India to die in Agra. Letters written by the Queen to Abdul was forfeited and burned.

A good book for people who love to read about British India.

I rate this book as 8.5/10.

Manish Tully
















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