 Karim was born into a Muslim family at Lalitpur near Jhansi in 1863 . His father , Haji Mohammed Waziruddin , was a hospital assistant stationed with the Central India Horse , a British cavalry regiment . Karim had one older brother , Abdul Aziz , and four younger sisters . He was taught Persian and Urdu privately , and as a teenager travelled across North India and into Afghanistan . Karim 's father participated in the conclusive march to Kandahar , which ended the Second Anglo @-@ Afghan War , in August 1880 . After the war , Karim 's father transferred from the Central India Horse to a civilian position at the Central Jail in Agra , while Karim worked as a <unk> ( " agent " or " representative " ) for the Nawab of <unk> in the Agency of Agar . After three years in Agar , Karim resigned and moved to Agra , to become a vernacular clerk at the jail . His father arranged a marriage between Karim and the sister of a fellow worker . 
