File:Print of Lord Clive encountering the ghost of Omichand, the Sikh who was the principal merchant to the English in Calcutta, ca.1773 (painted).jpg

The ghost of Omichand [alt. spelt as 'Omichund'], 1773. This rare satirical print from the Westminster Magazine shows a startled Lord Clive (held by the arms) coming face-to-face with an apparition of Omichand, the Sikh who was the principal merchant to the English in Calcutta. Clive had tricked him out of his share of an immense fortune in the run up to the Battle of Plassey in 1757.

Description taken from source:

"Representation of: Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive of Plassey. Lord Clive is confronted by the ghost of Omichund (Amir Chand) a Sikh merchant and intriguer who was tricked by British, but probably only after tricking them in his turn. It illustrates a dialogue in verse (a parody of Hamlet) between 'Nabob' (Clive) and Omichund. Omichund, wearing a feathered turban, appears from clouds addressing Clive with a minatory gesture. Clive, who is supported on each side by a military officer, starts back in horror. Omichund stands under a high palm-tree, from whose branches a man, stripped to the waist, is hanging by the wrists. A note explains that he is "the man under Breeches punishment". The scene is a walled enclosure or compound, on the right. behind Clive part of a high tent is visible."

British Library description (taken from: [1]):

Object Type

   print 
   satirical print 
   book-illustration 

Museum number

   1868,0808.10033 

Title

   Object: Object: The Ghost of Omichund 

Description

   It illustrates a dialogue in verse (a parody of Hamlet) between 'Nabob' (Clive) and Omichund. Omichund, wearing a feathered turban, appears from clouds addressing Clive with a minatory gesture. Clive, who is supported on each side by a military officer, starts back in horror. Omichund stands under a high palm-tree, from whose branches a man, stripped to the waist, is hanging by the wrists. A note explains that he is "the man under Breeches punishment". The scene is a walled enclosure or compound, on the right. behind Clive part of a high tent is visible.
   Beneath the title is engraved the beginning of the dialogue, spoken by the ghost of Omichund:

   "What Woes, he cried, hath lust of Gold
   O'er my poor Country widely roll'd,
   Plunderers proceed!" January 1773
   Engraving 

Producer name

   Print made by: Anonymous 

School/style

   British 

Production date

   1773 

Materials

   paper 

Technique

   engraving 

Dimensions

   Height: Height: 165 millimetres 
   Width: Width: 106 millimetres 

Inscriptions

       Inscription type: inscription
       Inscription content: With title below, and three lines of verse parodied from 'Hamlet'

Curator's comments

   (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935)
   From the 'Westminster Magazine', I 67
   Clive's trick on Omichund who had threatened to divulge the negotiations with Mir Jaffier before the Battle of Plassey unless he was given 30 lakhs of rupees is said to have led to Omichund's loss of reason and death and is the chief stain on Clive's reputation. See also BMSat 5017, 5100, 5102, 5111. 

Bibliographic references

   BM Satires / Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum (5101) 

Location

   Not on display 

Exhibition history

   1990/1 Oct-Mar, London, National Portrait Gallery, 'The Raj...' 

Subjects

   satire 

Associated names

   Representation of: Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive of Plassey 
   Representation of: Amir Chand 

Acquisition name

   Purchased from: Edward Hawkins (estate of) 

Acquisition date

   1868 

Department

   Prints and Drawings 

Registration number