Editing Spear (section)

====India====
{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | total_width = 340
 | image1 = Razakars.jpg
 | caption1 = Razakars during Operation Polo
 | image2 = Spear man in raghoba camp.jpg
 | caption2 = Engraving of a [[Maratha]] soldier with spear by [[James Forbes (artist)|James Forbes]], 1813.
}}
Spears are known as '''Bhala''' in Indian languages.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pant |first1=Gayatri Nath |title=Studies in Indian Weapons and Warfare |date=1970 |publisher=Army Educational Stores |pages=158. 281 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=13ZXAAAAMAAJ&q=spear+is+called+bhala |access-date=14 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Spears in the [[Indian society]] were used both in missile and non-missile form, both by cavalry and foot-soldiers. Mounted spear-fighting was practiced using with a {{convert|10|ft|cm|abbr=on|order=flip|sigfig=1}}, ball-tipped wooden lance called a ''bothati'', the end of which was covered in dye so that hits may be confirmed. Spears were constructed from a variety of materials such as the ''sang'' made completely of steel, and the ''ballam'' which had a bamboo shaft.

The Arab presence in Sindh and the Mameluks of Delhi introduced the [[assegai|Middle Eastern javelin]] into India.

The [[Rajput]]s wielded a type of spear for infantrymen which had a club integrated into the spearhead, and a pointed butt end. Other spears had forked blades, several spear-points, and numerous other innovations. One particular spear unique to India was the ''vita'' or corded lance.

Used by the [[Maratha Army]], it had a rope connecting the spear with the user's wrist, allowing the weapon to be thrown and pulled back. The ''[[Vel]]'' is a type of spear or lance, originated in [[South India|Southern India]], primarily used by [[Tamils]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1z9ZAAAAMAAJ&q=vel+spear+weapon|title=StO|last=Nikkilä|first=Pertti|date=1997|publisher=Finnish Oriental Society|isbn=9789519380315|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YMJGAAAAMAAJ&q=vel+spear+weapon|title=Śaṅgam polity: the administration and social life of the Śaṅgam Tamils|last=Subrahmanian|first=N.|date=1996|publisher=Ennes|language=en}}</ref>

Sikh [[Nihang]]s sometimes carry a spear even today. Spears were used in conflicts and training by armed paramilitary units such as the [[razakar]]s of [[Nizam]]s of [[Hyderabad State]] as late as the second half of the 20th century.