Naidu

Naidu

Naidu (also spelt Nayudu or Naidoo) 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 word Naidu is etymologically related to the Tamil Nayakar and Naicker, Malayali Nair, the Nayake of Sinhalese people, Marathi Naik, and Nayaks (Pattanayak) in Orissa.
Naidu is the caste name or caste title used by the people belonging to the Kapu castes and its subcastes Balija / Balija Naidu, Telaga, Ontari, and Turpu Kapu in Andhra Pradesh , Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. They constitute more than 25% of the population of Andhra Pradesh.
Medieval Andhra dynasties like the Vishnukundins and Chalukyasand the recent ones like the Vijayanagara Empire conferred the title Nayaka / Nayakudu to a commander or Danda-nayaka (Army Commanderor) or a leader of a band of soldiers.
A title denoting a village or lineage headman.
Warriors) who 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].
Other communities like Boyars, Mudirajus, Kammas and Velamas sometimes adopt this title in a few districts in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Title usage

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 and 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:
It denoted a Commander or a Governor.
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 communities like Pallis, Vanniars, Irulas, Vedans, and also by various Kannada castes apart from Telugu speaking Communities
Edgar Thurston describes Naidu as a title used mostly by Telugu classes like Balija, Bestha, Kamma, 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.

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.

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,Velama, Idiga, Valmiki.

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.

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.