Nayak (title)

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The Nayak is a historic Indian title conferred on Sardars, who were governors of feudal states in the Middle Ages. Today it is also a surname. Nayaks are mostly Hindu and Sikh, who follow Hinduism and Sikhism respectively.

As a surname[edit]

Today, the surname Nayak is used by various castes and ethnic groups across India. Mostly they belong from forward class and mainly follows Sikhism and Hinduism.[1]

  • In Punjab and Chandigarh, the surname Nayak is used by Sikh people who follow Sikhism and are known as kshathriya in their societies.
  • In West Bengal, The Nayak is used by Hindu people who follow Hinduism.
  • Naik was another Name of Banjara Tribe of India. The Naik/Nayak surname is generally used by Banjaras/Lambani/Labana throughout India. Banjaras can also be described as Naik in Uttar Pradesh. Head of Banjara village/Tanda is called Naik. Some notable Banjaras with the Naik surname are Vasantrao Naik and Sudhakarrao Naik.
  • In Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, other versions of the surnames exists such as Naidu and Naicker. While Nayakar are used by people belonging to Bedar Valmiki, Kapu, Balija, Golla, Telaga, and Kamma. In the north of Tamil Nadu, the title Naicker and Nayagar are used by the Tamil speaking Vanniyars while in the south of Tamil Nadu, the Telugu castes such as Balija, Golla, and the Kammas use the Naicker title.[6] Also in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana the Naik surname is adopted as a surname by several communities including Bedar.[7]
  • The Muslim Siddis of Karnataka, use the surname Nayaka which they received as a title from the kings of Bijapur.[8]
  • In Karnataka it is used by some subcastes of the Vokkaliga community.[9] It is also a common surname amidst a section of Makkalasantana following a sect of parivara Bunt (community) and the Nayak/Bedar community.
  • In Maharashtra the surname Nayak and Naik is used by Kshatriya Marathas, CKPs, Saraswat Brahmin and Deshastha Brahmin communities.[10]
  • In Tamil Nadu, members of the Vanniyar caste are found in the districts of Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and Chengalpattu. They use the Naicker and Nayagar as a surname or title.[11] Also in Tamil Nadu, members of the Jakkama clan use Nayakkar, Naicker and Nayagar as a surname or title.[12]

References[edit]

  1. Kumar Suresh Singh (2002). People of India: Introduction. Oxford University Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-19-564444-9.
  2. Hardiman, David (2007). Histories for the Subordinated. New Delhi, India: Seagull Books. pp. 103: the state of Jawhar, below the mountains in the Konkan, was founded by a Koli nayak around 1300. ISBN 978-1-905422-38-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. Hardiman, David; Hardiman, Professor of History David (1996). Feeding the Baniya: Peasants and Usurers in Western India. New Delhi, India: Oxford University Press. pp. 221: The Koli country was then known as the Bavan Mavals, or '52 valleys ' in Maratha Empire . Each valley was controlled by a Koli chief, or nayak . The sirnayak, or head chief, lived at Junnar, and presided over the gotarni, or caste council. ISBN 978-0-19-563956-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. Sharma, Himanshu (5 November 2019). Veer Tanhaji Malusare. New Delhi, India: Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5296-955-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  5. Hassan, Syed Siraj ul (1989). The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions. New Delhi, India: Asian Educational Services. p. 333. ISBN 978-81-206-0488-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. A. Vijay Kumari (1998). Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh. M D Publications. p. 89. ISBN 978-81-7533-072-6.
  7. Kumar Suresh Singh (1993). Ethnography, Customary Law, and Change. Concept Publishing Company. p. 249. ISBN 978-81-7022-471-6.
  8. Shanti Sadiq Ali (1996). The African Dispersal in the Deccan: From Medieval to Modern Times. Orient Blackswan. p. 226. ISBN 978-81-250-0485-1.
  9. L. K. A. Iyer (2005). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Vol. 3. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. p. 270. Gauda and Naika are the titles affixed to their names , and the common honorific suffixes Appa and Ayya for males and Avva and Akka for females are also in use
  10. Anupama Rao (2009). The Caste Question: Dalits and the Politics of Modern India. University of California Press. p. 315. ISBN 978-0-520-25761-0.
  11. A N Sattanathan (1975). Report of the Backward Classes Commission. Government of Tamil Nadu. p. 86.
  12. Chockalingam Joe Arun (2007). Constructing Dalit Identity. p. 43. ISBN 978-81-316-0081-8.
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