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Naidu or Nayudu or Naidoo is a common title used by various social groups of Andhra Pradesh. It is a derivative of the Telugu word Nayakudu. It is the title used by Telugu groups such as Kapu and its Sub Castes like Telaga and Balija.And is widely used in Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu,Karnataka and Orissa.
Other Communities like Kamma and some Native Tamil Communities use the title Naicker.] is the Tamil word for Naidu widely used in South Tamil Nadu.
Origins
It is a title denoting a village or Lineage headman or Commander or Governor and was granted by Kings for those who were responsible for collecting taxes and maintaining order. As such eventually in Modern times it was inherited as a title by many although they no longer were either collecting taxes or were in any in leadership positions in villages. It is a Telugu derivation of the Sanskrit title for a head of a band of soldiers known as Nayaka the protector.
Nayaka as an origin can be traced out to the Western Chalukyan Expansion into Andhra Country rule during the 7th Century Naidu title in the Medieval times was associated with primarily with communities such as Kapu / Balija / Telaga initially and later Velamas and Kammas who served as Commanders under various Andhra Dynasities like Chalukya, Kakatiya and Vijayanagar. During the expansion of Vijayanagar Kingdom into Southern India it was conferred to other non-Telugu Speaking communities who served as Commanders or Barons or Governors under the Vijayanagar Emperors in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Hence the widespread usage of Naidu among lots of Non Telugu Speaking Communities in States like Tamil Nadu,Karnataka and Orissa can be noted.
Title usage
The word Naik (Nayaka, a leader or chief) 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 Kanada castes:
Telugu
According to Edgar Thurston (Castes and Tribes of Southern India Vol. 5 pg. 138) Naidu or Nayudu is a title used by many Telugu castes.( In Alphabetical Order)
- Balija
- Gavara
- Kalingi
- Kamma
- Kapu
- Mudiraju
- Telaga
- Velama
Tulu
- Mogers in some parts of South Canara prefer the title Naiker to the ordinary caste title of Marakaleru.
- Some Bunts have the same title.
- The headman amongst the Lambadis is called Naik.
- Naicker also occurs as a hereditary title in some Brahman families.
- Naik, Naiko or Nayako appears as the title of various Oriya classes.
Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu Naidu title is used only by people of Telugu origins, whereas Tamil speaking communities in Arcot dirstrct use Naicker title with both the titles carrying the same meaning.
Chennai
Naidus in Chennai are prominently Balija Naidus or Kapu Naidus and Kammas.
Coimbatore
The most predominant section of communities that use Naidu are Balijas and Kammas in Coimbatore District. Balija Naidus (Gavara/Gajula)Kamma in southern Districts use Naicker title,while the title(Naicker) is also used by other Telugu speaking communities in those districts.
Naicker Title
There are also Kavarai Naidus( Gavara Balija Naidus) scattered in Tamil Nadu. Gajula Balija Naidus(Valaiyal Chettis in Tamil)are major branch of Gavara Balija Naidus.According to Thurston Madura,Thanjavur Nayaka dynasties and VijayaNagar dynasties belong to Balija Naidu caste. Telugu Communities like Balija and Kamma in Southern districts like (Dindigul, Karur, Madurai)and uptil Tirunelveli also use Naicker title. Communities like Kambala and Thottiar also use the title Naicker.Munnuru Kapus of Andhra pradesh are migrated Balija Naidus from Tamilnadu.
Usage abroad
It is used as a surname in South Africa where a variant spelling Naidoo is used amongst its Tamil citizens. The usage does not denote Telugu ancestry any longer as intermarriage has diluted such identities. In Sri Lanka it is used amongst the Indian origin Hill Country Tamils and in Mauritius it is a surname of Tamil populations. In Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana it is a surname of the broader Indian diaspora and has lost its South Indian origins completely. InMalaysia it is used by Telugus to denote their Telugu ancestry.
Prominent persons
- Periyar , EVR, E.V. Ramaswami Naicker of Dravida Kazhagam (Kannada Naidu) (DMK, AIADMK, MDMK etc and other prominent political parties of Tamil Nadu are derived from DK which was started by EVR and Annadurai) Refer http://en.wikipedia.org/Periyar_Ramasami
- Sri Grandhi Venkata Reddy Naidu - Hails from the famous Grandhi family of West Godavari District. Pre-independence, Sri Naidu was a lawyer by profession, and was active in the West Godavari political scene. He later went on to be elected Member of the Legislative Assembly when Andhra Pradesh was formed and was appointed the Minister for Law and Endowments in AP's first cabinet led by Chief Minister Sanjeeva Reddy. (Kapu, Balija Naidu)
- Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu (Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- (S.V.R),Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Kannamba(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Mahanati Savithri(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Devika(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- G .(Garikepati)VaraLakshmi (Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- C. K. Naidu, Cottari Kanakaiah Naidu, first Indian cricket team captain(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Justice Grandhi Bhavani Prasad - Current Justice in the Andhra Pradesh High Court and grandson of former Law Minister Sri Grandhi Venkata Reddy Naidu, Justice Bhavani Prasad is a well-known figure in the Andhra Pradesh judicial system where he served for more than 30 years. (Kapu, Balija Naidu)
- Padmabhuashan Megastar chiranjeevi(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Dasari Narayana Rao(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu (Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Kodi Rama murthy Naidu(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Famous dancer Sobha Naidu(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Thapi Dharma Rao Naidu(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- M(Marrikonda) Chalapathi Rao,Eminent journalist,friend of Jawaharlal Nehru(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- K.G. Baalakrishnan, Chairman KG Denim Limited of Tamil Nadu
- Jayaseelan "Jay" Naidoo - South African anti-apartheid activitst and former leader of South African trade union, COSATU. Candidate number six on the alliance list for the National Assembly and was duely elected to parliament. In 1994 Naidoo was appointed Minister without Portfolio in the GNU charged with the responsibility of overseeing the Reconstruction and Development Programme. He was given the post of Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting in March 1996 till the second democratic elections (June 1999).
- Anand Naidoo, CNN anchor
- Prishani Naidoo, A South African writer
- Xavier Naidoo German Singer of South African Indian Tamil descent
- Vaiko Prominent Tamil Nadu nationalistic politician
- Indira Naidoo - Australian broadcaster
- Amma Naidoo - South African freedom fighter
- Leela Naidu - Actress in 50's and 60's.1954 Miss India.
- Victor Venkat Naidu: First Secretary - Fiji Girmit Festival
- M.R.Radha (Balija Naidu)
- Vijaya Kanth: The famous Tamil actor turned politician (Balija Naidu)
- Sneha: One of the top actress of South Indian film industry (Gavara Naidu)
- P (Punjala) Shiva Shankar(Kapu Naidu)
- K(Kancherla)Keshava Rao(Kapu Naidu)
- D K Adikesavalu Naidu (MP, Chittoor AP, and Businessman, Liquor Baron and Trustee of Puttaparti Saibaba Foundation) (Balija Naidu)
- M.S.Ramaiah(Educational institutes in Bangalore (Balija Naidu)
- Kandula Veera Raghava Swamy Naidu(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Mandapaka Rangayya Naidu(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Thota Narasayya Naidu(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Polisetty Swamy Naidu (Freedom Fighter)(Kapu,Balija Naidu)
- Pagadala Ramaswamy Sudershan Naidu (Freedom Fighter - Hyderabad)(Kapu Naidu)
- Puligundla Sandeep Naidu (Chittoor)
- Nara Chandrababu Naidu(Kamma Naidu)
- M. Venkaiah Naidu(Kamma Naidu)
- Nalanagula Manoj Kumar
- P.V. Rangaiah Naidu I.P.S. Former Union Minister (Kapu Naidu)
- Dr G V Rao, Ph D., Forensic DNA Expert, India