| The tulwar or the curved sword is a weapon that | | | | The advent of the Moslems saw them adapt the |
| has been in use for almost 4000 years. The | | | | sword for their use as well. But Moslem cavalry |
| earliest mention of this weapon is in the | | | | relied more on archery and archers and the |
| Mahabharata where it was used as a weapon of | | | | sword became a weapon of close combat. The |
| war. It was also used in combat by kings as well | | | | British who came to India were suitably impressed |
| as soldiers. It was basically a weapon of the | | | | by the Tulwar. They adapted it for their cavalry |
| cavalry as horse men heralded forward with their | | | | as the saber.The blade of the British Pattern 1796 |
| swords glistening in the sun light. | | | | light cavalry saber is thought to be adapted from |
| The Indian sword in contrast to European swords | | | | the Indian tulwar. British horsemen moved |
| was lighter and had a curved shape like a | | | | forward with these curved swords and used |
| crescent.The broad sword of the Europeans was | | | | them with telling effect. The charge of the light |
| heavier and not so maneuverable.In comparison | | | | brigade of the British army in the Crimea war |
| the Indian sword was greatly maneuverable and | | | | was with sabers. It has been immortalized with |
| lighter and thus had a deadlier effect. | | | | the words of Tennyson's poem 'it was not to |
| The curved Indian sword or as called the tulwar in | | | | reason why, but to do and die' |
| India was made in vast numbers and local smiths | | | | Most rulers of the sub continent either Hindu or |
| were adept in manufacturing the weapon. Its | | | | Moslem all patronized the tulwar. It was a weapon |
| blade was on the longer side of the sword and | | | | used by both the infantry and the cavalry. It was |
| with its curved shape was more aerodynamic and | | | | also much in demand by kings and generals for |
| swished through the air with the least resistance. | | | | combat and duels. But with the advent of the |
| A complement to the sword was the shield which | | | | musket the tulwar slowly went out of fashion. |
| was carried tied to the left forearm while the | | | | The tulwar is still made in India by old weapon |
| warrior handled the sword with his right hand. | | | | manufacturer's.But its use is mostly on ceremonial |
| The tulwar also had a curved scabbard and a | | | | occasions and religious processions. But when we |
| short hilt. It was not uncommon for generals and | | | | look back to the checkered military history of the |
| kings in the subcontinent to have their own | | | | sub-continent the tulwar will always occupy an |
| distinctive swords with ornamental hilts. Some had | | | | important place as a weapon of war. |
| them studded with diamonds and precious gems. | | | | |