Naidu

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Naidu or Nayudu or Naidoo is a common title used by various social groups of Andhra Pradesh. It is a derivative of the Telugu word Nayakudu. It is the title used by Telugu groups such as Kamma, Velama, Kapu, Telaga and Balija of Andhra Pradesh.

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[edit] Origins

It is a title denoting a village or Lineage headman or Commander or Governor and was granted by Kings for those who were responsible for collecting taxes and maintaining order. As such eventually in Modern times it was inherited as a title by many although they no longer were either collecting taxes or were in any in leadership positions in villages. It is a Telugu derivation of the Sanskrit title for a head of a band of soldiers known as Nayaka the protector.

Nayaka as an origin can be traced out to the Western Chalukyan Expansion into Andhra Country rule during the 7th Century A.D. Naidu title in the Medieval times was associated with primarily with communities such as Kamma / Velama / Kapu / Balija / Telaga who served as Commanders under various Andhra Dynasities like Chalukya, Kakatiya and Vijayanagar. During the expansion of Vijayanagar Kingdom into Southern India it was conferred to other non-Telugu Speaking communities who served as Commanders or Barons or Governors under the Vijayanagar Emperors in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Hence the widespread usage of Naidu among lots of Non Telugu Speaking Communities in States like Tamil Nadu,Karnataka and Orissa can be noted.

[edit] Title usage

The word Naik (Nayaka, a leader or chief) is used by the older writers in southern India in several senses, of which the following ex. given by Yule and Burnell may be cited:

  1. Native captain or headman
  2. Title of honor among Hindus in the Deccan. "The kings of deccan also have a custom when they will honor a man or recompence their service done, and raise him to dignity and honor. They give him the title of Nayak." -Linschoten
  3. The general name of the Kings of Vijayanagar.
  4. Naik, Naickan, Naicker, Nayak or Nayakkan has been used by the Tamil Pallis, Vanniars, Irulas, Vedans, and also by various Kanada castes:

[edit] Telugu

According to Edgar Thurston (Castes and Tribes of Southern India Vol. 5 pg. 138) Naidu or Nayudu is a title used by many Telugu castes.

  1. Kamma
  2. Balija
  3. Gavara
  4. Kalingi
  5. Kapu
  6. Mudiraju
  7. Telaga
  8. Velama

[edit] Tulu

  1. Mogers in some parts of South Canara prefer the title Naiker to the ordinary caste title of Marakaleru.
  2. Some Bunts have the same title.
  3. The headman amongst the Lambadis is called Naik.
  4. Naicker also occurs as a hereditary title in some Brahman families.
  5. Naik, Naiko or Nayako appears as the title of various Oriya classes.

[edit] Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu Naidu title is used only by people of Telugu origins, whereas Tamil speaking communities in Arcot dirstrct use Naicker title. On the whole Naicker is nothing but Naidu in Tamil.

Naidus in Chennai usually are Kamma and Balijas. There are also Kavarai Naidus scattered in Tamil Nadu. The most predominant section of communities that that use Naidu are Balija and Kamma in Coimbatore District. Telugu Communities like Balija and Kamma in Southern districts like (Dindigul, Karur, Madurai)and uptil Tirunelveli also use Naicker title. Communities like Kambala and Thottiar also use the title Naicker.

[edit] Usage abroad

It is used as a surname in South Africa where a variant spelling Naidoo is used amongst its Tamil citizens. The usage does not denote Telugu ancestry any longer as intermarriage has diluted such identities. In Sri Lanka it is used amongst the Indian origin Hill Country Tamils and in Mauritius and Malaysia it is a surname of respective Tamil populations. In Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana it is a surname of the broader Indian diaspora and has losts its South Indian origins completely.

[edit] Prominent persons

  • Periyar , EVR, E.V. Ramaswami Naicker of Dravidar Kazhagam (Kannada Naidu) (DMK, AIADMK, MDMK etc and other prominent political parties of Tamil Naidu are derived from DK which was started by EVR and Annadurai) Refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periyar_Ramasami
  • Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu (Kapu)
  • C. K. Naidu, Cottari Kanakaiah Naidu, first Indian cricket team captain
  • Padmabhuashan Megastar chiranjeevi
  • K.G. Baalakrishnan, Chairman KG Denim Limited of Tamil Nadu
  • Anand Naidoo, CNN anchor
  • Prishani Naidoo, A South African writer
  • Xavier Naidoo German Singer of South African Indian Tamil descent
  • Vaiko Prominent Tamil Nadu nationalistic politician
  • Indira Naidoo - Australian broadcaster
  • Amma Naidoo - South African freedom fighter
  • Victor Venkat Naidu: First Secretary - Fiji Girmit Festival
  • Vijaya Kanth: The famous tamil actor turned politician
  • D K Adikesavalu Naidu (MP, Chittoor AP, and Businessman, Liquor Baron and Trustee of Puttaparti Saibaba Foundation)
  • Kandula Veera Raghava Swamy Naidu
  • Mandapaka Rangayya Naidu
  • Thota Narasayya Naidu
  • Polisetty Swamy Naidu (Freedom Fighter)
  • Pagadala Ramaswamy Sudershan Naidu (Freedom Fighter - Hyderabad)
  • Puligundla Sandeep Naidu (Chittoor)
  • Nara Chandrababu Naidu
  • M. Venkaiah Naidu
  • P.V. Rangaiah Naidu I.P.S. Former Union Minister

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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