Nayak (title)
The Nayak, Naik and Nayaka is a historic Indian title conferred on Sardars, who were governors of feudal states in the Middle Ages. Today it is also a surname. Nayak Mostly they are Hindu and Sikh, which follows Hinduism and Sikhism respectively.
Naik
- The Nayaka title was given by Vijayanagara rulers to their feudal subject rulers, who later established independent Nayak dynasties after the downfall of the Vijayanagara Empire in South India all the Nayakas[1]
- Nayak or Naik title was conferred to the Hindu Sardars by rulers of Maratha Empire.[2]
As a surname
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.[3]
- In Punjab, Chandigarh, surname "Nayak" is used by sikh people who follows sikhism are known as kshathriya by their society.
- In West Bengal, The Nayak is used by hindu people who follows hinduism.
- In Rajsthan, Maharashtra, UP , The Nayak is used by Lubana Community who were historically known as merchants of saltpetre, Silk, Diamonds etc.
- In Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, other versions of the surnames such as Naidu and Naicker, Nayakar are used by people belonging to Bedar Valmiki, Kapu, Balija, Golla, Telaga, and mainly 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.[4]
- The Muslim Siddis of Karnataka, use the surname Nayaka which they received as title from Bijapur Kings.[5]
- In Karnataka it was earlier used by some chiefs of the Vokkaliga community. It is also a common surname amidst a section of Makkalasantana following sect of parivara Bunt(community) and the Nayak/Bedar community.
- In Maharashtra the surname Nayak and Naik is used by Kshatriya Marathas, CKPs and Deshastha Brahmin communities.[6]
- In Odisha, significant population of "Naik" or "Nayak" is present who claim themselves one of the martial communities of the state.
- In Tamil Nadu, members of the Vanniyar caste in the districts of Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and Chengalpattu use Naicker and Nayagar as a surname or title.[7]
- In Tamil Nadu, members of the Jakkama clan use Nayakkar, Naicker and Nayagar as a surname or title.[8]
- In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Naik (head of a tribal group) surname is adopted as surname by several tribal communities including, Bedar, Lambadis, Sugali, or Banjara.[9]
- Nayak is also a prominent surname among the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) and Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins (RSB) community. There are different versions of the spelling as Nayak, Naick, Naik.
References
- ^ Kathleen Gough (2008). Rural Society in Southeast India. Cambridge University Press. p. 436. ISBN 978-0-521-04019-8.
- ^ Shivaji, the Great Maratha, Volume 1. Genisys Publishing. 2002. p. 116. ISBN 978-81-7755-285-0.
- ^ Kumar Suresh Singh (2002). People of India: Introduction. Oxford University Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-19-564444-9.
- ^ A. Vijay Kumari. Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh. M D Publications. p. 89. ISBN 978-81-7533-072-6.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ A N Sattanathan. Report of the Backward Classes Commission. p. 86.
- ^ Chockalingam Joe Arun. Constructing Dalit Identity. p. 43. ISBN 978-81-316-0081-8.
- ^ Kumar Suresh Singh (1993). Tribal Ethnography, Customary Law, and Change. Concept Publishing Company. p. 249. ISBN 978-81-7022-471-6.