Naidu
Naidu (also spelled Nayudu or Naidoo) is a title used by various social groups in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in India. The title is also found in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. It is derived from the Telugu word "Nayaka," which originates from the Sanskrit term "Nayaka," meaning "protector" or "leader."
== Etymology and Usage ==
The term "Naidu" is etymologically related to "Naicker" in Tamil, "Nair" in Kerala, "Naik" in Marathi, and "Nayak" (Pattanayak) in Odisha.
In Coastal Andhra the term Naidu primarily refers to the Kapu caste.
Naidu is both a caste name and a title primarily associated with the Kapu (Telaga/Balija Naidu/Ontari) community, which comprises approximately 18% of the population of Andhra Pradesh. The title "Nayaka" (Naidu) was historically conferred upon individuals from other Telugu-speaking communities, including the Velama and Kamma castes, particularly in the Chittoor and Nellore regions.
The title was used to denote a village or lineage headman. Various medieval Andhra dynasties, including the Vishnukundins and Chalukyas, as well as the Vijayanagara Empire, conferred the title "Nayaka" or "Nayakudu" upon military commanders, known as Danda-Nayakas (Army Commanders), or leaders of soldier bands.
== Historical Context ==
Originally, the Nayaka title was conferred upon Telugu communities. During the medieval period, the Kakatiya and Vijayanagara kingdoms had several prominent Nayakas from various castes. As the Vijayanagar Empire expanded, the title "Nayaka" was also conferred upon non-Telugu-speaking communities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka who served in similar capacities. The title continues to be used by multiple communities across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
The Nayaka title was historically given to warriors who were granted land under the Nayankara system during the Kakatiya dynasty. The system was one of approximately 25 titles used by the Kakatiyas to establish a new political infrastructure, reducing the influence of hereditary regional elites. The Nayankara system was later adopted by the Vijayanagar Empire, where Nayakas or Palayakarrars (Polygars) were granted land on the condition that they provided military service to the king.
== Use of the Naidu Surname ==
Over time, multiple communities adopted the Naidu surname. According to Edgar Thurston in Castes and Tribes of Southern India (Vol. 5, p. 138), the title "Naidu" or "Nayudu" was historically used by several Telugu castes in colonial India, including Kapu, Kamma, Balija, Boya, Gavara, Golla, Kalingi, Mudiraj, Velama, Odde, Tottiyan, Reddy, Telaga, Uppiliyan, Idiga, and Valmiki.
== Evolution of the Nayaka Title ==
The earliest recorded use of the Nayaka/Danda Nayaka title dates back to the Vishnukundina dynasty, which ruled from the Krishna and Godavari deltas in the 3rd century CE. The usage of this title expanded significantly during the 7th century, particularly with the incursion of the Western Chalukyas into Andhra territory. However, the most widespread use of the title occurred during the Vijayanagar rule, when it became a prominent designation for military and administrative leaders across South India.
In Coastal Andhra and Tamil Nadu the term Naidu primarily refers the Kapu caste.[1][2][3]
Notable people
[edit]People bearing the title Naidu include:
- Ama Naidoo, social activist from South Africa
- Baddukonda Appala Naidu, politician, YSRCP leader
- B. Munuswamy Naidu, former Chief Minister of Madras Presidency
- Buchi Babu Naidu, Indian cricket pioneer known as the 'father of South Indian cricket'[4]
- Chandra Nayudu, India's first female cricket commentator[5]
- Chota K. Naidu, Telugu cinematographer
- C. K. Nayudu, first captain of the Indian cricket team and one of India's greatest cricketers[6]
- C. S. Nayudu, represented India in Test cricket from 1934 to 1952
- D. K. Adikesavulu Naidu, former chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
- Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, Carnatic violinist
- Daggubati Ramanaidu, Telugu film producer
- Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu, member of Telugu Desam Party
- Galla Ramachandra Naidu, Indian industrialist, the founder of Amara Raja Group of companies
- Gorle Sriramulu Naidu, former Minister, Congress Party, Andhra Pradesh
- Grandhi Venkata Reddy Naidu, first Law Minister of Andhra Pradesh
- G. D. Naidu, scientist, inventor and businessman, known as "Edison of India"
- K. Govindaswamy Naidu, entrepreneur, founder of KG Group
- Kamisetty Parasuram Naidu, Speaker of Pondicherry Assembly (1985–1989)[7]
- Kodi Rammurthy Naidu, bodybuilder, strongman, and wrestler
- Kondapalli Pydithalli Naidu, former Member of Parliament; Telugu Desam Party leader
- Kondapalli Appala Naidu, Telugu Desam Party leader
- Kuppuswami Naidu, entrepreneur, founder of Lakshmi Mills
- Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu, former Chief Minister and Governor of Madras Presidency
- K. Venkataswami Naidu, politician
- Leela Naidu, Indian actress
- M. Venkaiah Naidu, 13th Vice President of India
- Nalla Reddi Naidu, former Member of Parliament
- Naransamy Roy Naidoo, social activist in South Africa
- Nimmala Rama Naidu, politician, Telugu Desam Party
- N. Chandrababu Naidu, current Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, leader of Telugu Desam Party
- P. Varadarajulu Naidu, Indian physician, politician, journalist and Indian independence activist
- P. S. Govindasamy Naidu, educator, founder of PSG Group
- P. V. Rangayya Naidu, former Director General of Police and member of the 10th Lok Sabha of India
- Padmaja Naidu, freedom fighter
- Palnati Brahmanaidu, minister of a small Andhra kingdom of Palnadu
- Pathivada Narayanaswamy Naidu, former Minister, Andhra Pradesh
- Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu, commander of a Vijayanagara military unit
- Prakash Nayudu, sportsperson who represented Madhya Pradesh cricket team
- Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu, filmmaker widely known as the "father of Telugu cinema"
- Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu, Indian social reformer and educationist
- Ramesh Naidu, National Award-winning music composer
- Sarojini Naidu, independence activist and poet known as "nightingale of India"
- Sobha Naidu, classical dancer
- Srihari S. Naidu, physician
- S. R. A. S. Appala Naidu, politician; former MP and state minister
- Thapi Dharma Rao Naidu, writer and journalist, winner of Sahitya Akademi Award[8]
- Thota Narasayya Naidu, freedom fighter
- Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu, Amaravathi Raja
References
[edit]- ^ KS, Singh (1996). Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 1815, 1169.
Naidu—or Kapu, an alternative name for the same subcaste—is known as one of Andhra Pradesh's dominant castes, along with the Reddis and the Kamma.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India. Vol. 39. Anthropological Survey of India. 1990. p. 70.
The group is also known as Kapu, Naidu, Telaga in coastal districts of the state and is ethnically similar to Balija Naidus of Rayalaseema area of Andhra Pradesh.
- ^ Prasada Bhoopaludu (1939). Andhra Vignanamu. Vol. 3. The Razan Electric Press. pp. 1381–1383.
- ^ Eastman, Benjamin; Ralph, Michael; Brown, Sean (2007-12-12). America's Game(s): A Critical Anthropology of Sport. Routledge. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-136-80263-8.
- ^ Dani, Bipin (5 April 2021). "India's first woman commentator Chandra Nayudu no more". Mid-Day.
- ^ Majumdar, Boria (2004). Once Upon a Furore: Lost Pages of Indian Cricket. Yoda Press. p. 50. ISBN 978-81-902272-0-9.
C. K. Nayudu is today universally acknowledged as one of the greatest Indian cricketers that ever lived.
- ^ More, J. B. Prashant (2007). The Telugus of Yanam and Masulipatnam: From French Rule to Integration with India. p. 263.
- ^ Kumari, A. Vijaya (1998). Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh. M.D. Publications. p. 14. ISBN 978-81-7533-072-6.
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