What is "bichuwa"

The bichuwa or bichawa is an Indian dagger with a loop hilt and a narrow undulating blade. It is named for its resemblance to the sting of a scorpion, for which the Hindi name is bichuwa. The weapon was based on the maru, or horn dagger created by the Dravidians of south India, and many bichuwa have blades which retain the shape of buffalo horns. Early examples of the bichuwa come from the medieval southern empire of Vijayanagara. Being relatively easy to make, the bichuwa has persisted into the 20th century as a decorative dagger.