Naidu

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Naidu is a title used by various social groups of the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states of India. It is also used in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Chattisgarh. It is a Telugu derivation of the Sanskrit Nayaka, meaning "protector" or "leader".

The other derivatives of Naidu are Tamil Nayakar and Naicker, Malayali Nair, the Nayake of Sinhalese people, Marathi Naik, and Nayaks (Pattanayak) in Orissa.

Naidu can refer to:

  • Medieval Andhra dynasties like the Vishnukundins and Chalukyas conferred the title Nayaka/Nayakudu to a commander or a leader of a band of soldiers.
  • A title denoting a village or lineage headman.
  • A person whose ancestor had served as a Danda-nayaka (Army Commander) in the Vishnukundina dynasty or the Vijayanagara Empire.
  • A person whose ancestors (usually warriors) had received land and the title Nayaka as a part of the Nayankarapuvaram system for services rendered to the court during the Kakatheeya dynasty. Nayaka was one among approximately 25 titles used by the Kakatiyas to create a new political infrastructure to undercut the authority of heredity regional elites. [1].
  • Naidu is the caste title of the people belonging to the Kapu castes and its subcastes Balija/ Balija Naidu, Telaga,Munnuru Kapu, Ontari, and Turpu Kapu in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
  • Other communities like Mudirajus,Boyars,Kammas and Velamas sometimes adopt this title in a few districts in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

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[edit] Title usage

Edgar Thurston describes Naidu as a title used mostly by Telugu classes like Balija, Bestha, Boya, Ekari, Gavara, Velama, Golla etc.

Though originally not meant to be a heredity title, by modern times, the Naidu title had been inherited by many, although they no longer were governors, army commanders or tax collectors.

In the medieval times, the title Naidu initially was associated primarily with the people who served as commanders under various Andhra dynasties, such as Chalukya, Kakatiya, etc. Initially, the title was conferred upon Kapu , Telaga, Balija communities. However, during the expansion of the Vijayanagar kingdom into Southern India, the title was conferred upon other non-Telugu speaking communities who served as Commanders, Barons or Governors under the Vijayanagar emperors in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka -- hence the widespread usage of the surname Naidu among many non-Telugu speaking communities in states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Orissa.

The word Naidu is used by the older writers in southern India in several senses, of which the following example given by Yule and Burnell may be cited:

  • Native captain or headman.
  • 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
  • The general name of the Kings of Vijayanagar.
  • Naik, Naickan, Naicker, Nayak or Nayakkan has been used by the Tamil Pallis, Vanniars, Irulas, Vedans, and also by various Kannada castes.

[edit] Origins

Nayaka's origins can be traced to the expansion of the Western Chalukyas into Andhra country during the 7th Century. The Nayaka / Danda Nayaka term started being used during the Vishnukundina dynasty which ruled from the Krishna and Godavari deltas during the 3rd Century A.D. Little is known about the title usage (or the people who made up this community) prior to that.

[edit] Telugu

According to Edgar Thurston (Castes and Tribes of Southern India Vol. 5; p.138) "Naidu" or "Nayudu" is a title used by several Telugu castes (in alphabetical order): Balija, Boyar caste, Gavara, Kalingi, Kamma, Kapu, Mudiraju, Reddy, Telaga, Uppiliya and Velama.

[edit] Tulu

  • Mogers in some parts of South Canara prefer the title Naiker to the ordinary caste title of Marakaleru.
  • Some Bunt (community) people have the same title.

[edit] Others

  • The headman amongst the Lambadis is called Naik.
  • Naicker and Naique is a hereditary title in some Brahman families.
  • Naik, Naiko, Nayako, Pattanayak appear as the title of various Oriya classes.
  • The protector groups in the Afghan Pashtunwali system are called Naiks.

[edit] Karnataka

In Karnataka the population of Balija Naidus(Kapus/Telagas) is about 45 lakhs.

[edit] Tamil Nadu

Unlike in Andhra, a lot of communities have the tile Naidu. And most of them are sometimes referred to as Subcastes of Naidu which is not right as they are different communities. The title Naidu is used only by people of Telugu origins, whereas Tamil speaking communities, such as in Arcot district, use the title Naicker. But several Balijas and Kammas also have the title Naicker. Both titles carry the same meaning. For Example, E.V.Ramasami Naicker was a Balija Naidu and had the title Naicker.

According to "The Tribes and Castes of The Central Provinces Of India" (R.V.Russell) and "The Castes and Tribes of Southern India" (Edgar Thurston) and "Balija Kula Charithra" (Kante Narayana Desayi), the kings of Vijayanagar, Madurai and Thanjavur belonged to Balija Naidu caste. See more of Nayak dynasty. 1896 book Balijawaru Puranam by Salem Sri Pagadala Narasimhalu Naidu is also a good reference.

[edit] Chennai

Naidu title in Chennai is predominantly used by Balija Naidu and Kamma Naidu castes, though it is used by other Telugu communities less frequently.

[edit] Coimbatore

The communities that use Naidu title are predominantly Balija Naidu (caste), Boyar caste and Kamma caste in Coimbatore District. They are some of the largest communities in Coimbatore. Naicker is also used by some other Telugu-speaking communities in the district.

[edit] Kerala

In Kerala there are just about 5000 families spread all over Kerala state.Their ancestors migrated around 200 years back from Madurai region. Some families came from Tirunelveli region. They are mostly Gavara Balija which is regarded as other backward castes in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. But in Kerala Naidu was in OBC in 1950's and 60's. But later on it was vanished from the list and now Naidu is not getting any concessions. This is being taken up by by the members of Naidu community in Kerala. They had very unique culture. Earlier marriages were solemnised on four days. There were very unique Telugu songs for each ceremony of the marriage. Of course these songs are in corrupted form due to inheritance by word of mouth. These songs are no longer in practice now.

[edit] Usage abroad

In South Africa a variant spelling "Naidoo" is used amongst its Telugu citizens. The usage does not denote Telugu ancestry any longer as intermarriages had diluted such identities. In Sri Lanka, it is used amongst the Hill Country Tamils of Indian origin, and in Mauritius it is a common surname of Tamil populations. In Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, it is a surname of the broader Indian diaspora. In Malaysia it is used by Telugus to denote their Telugu ancestry.


[edit] Famous Naidus

[edit] References

  • The Tribes and Castes of The Central Provinces Of India(R.V.Russell)
  • The Castes and Tribes of Southern India(EdgarThurston)
  • Balija Kula Charithra (Kante Narayana Desayi)
  • Balijavaaru puranam by Salem Pagadala Narasimhalu Naidu