Nayak (caste)
{{Short description|Hindu caste}}
{{Distinguish|text=Nayak (title)}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Disputed|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
The Nayak are a Hindu caste; also some Nayak are Punjabi found in India and Pakistan. Mainly Nayak follows Hindu.{{cite book |title=Stages of Life: Indian Theatre Autobiographies |edition=illustrated, reprint |orig-year=First published 2011 |year=2013 |pages=102–169 |publisher=Anthem Press |chapter=Radheshyam Kathavachak, My Theatre Days |first=Kathryn |last=Hansen |isbn=978-1783080687 |oclc=855190685 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M7JEAgAAQBAJ&q=%22Nayak+caste%22}} According to Vinay Krishin Gidwani, the Nayaks claim that they were, historically, Brahmins.{{cite thesis |type=Ph.D. |title=Fluid Dynamics: An Essay on Canal Irrigation and the Processses of Agrarian Change in Matar Taluka (Gujarat). India |first=Vinay Krishin |last=Gidwani |year=1996 |page=xii |publisher=University of California, Berkeley |oclc=41175219 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7B5NAQAAMAAJ&q=%22nayak+a+Scheduled+Caste%2C+especially+patronized+by+patels%2C+claim+to+have+been+brahmins+historically%22 |quote=nayak a Scheduled Caste, especially patronized by patels, claim to have been brahmins historically}}
Demographics and occupation
The Nayaks reside in Haryana,{{cite book |title=Lok Sabha Debates |work=Lok Sabha |year=2002 |page=545 |publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat |place=New Delhi, India |issn=0445-6769 |oclc=8866894 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1edgDv56lr0C&q=%22Nayak+Caste%22 |quote=...the Government of Haryana has also demanded that Nayak Caste be included in the list of Scheduled Castes.}} Punjab, Odisha, Rajasthan and West Bengal.{{cite book |title=Desert People: Caste and Community — A Rajasthani Village |first=Rolf |last=Lunheim |year=1993 |pages=92–93 |publisher=University of Trondheim |isbn=978-8290896121 |oclc=33369188 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuRtAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Nayak+caste%22}} They also live in Khammam district and West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh{{cite news |newspaper=The Hindu |title=Polls bring dispute over Nayaka caste status in West Godavari |first=G. |last=Nagaraja |place=Visakhapatnam, India |publication-date=15 July 2013 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/polls-bring-dispute-over-nayaka-caste-status-in-west-godavari/article4917134.ece |accessdate=13 February 2021}} and in a number of villages near Ahmedabad in Gujarat. According to Kathryn Hansen, the main occupation of Gujarati Nayaks had been "singing, dancing and acting in plays".
Present circumstances
The Nayak caste is classified as a Scheduled Caste in Gujarat and Rajasthan states of India.{{cite book |last=Lipner |first=Julius |author-link=Julius J. Lipner |title=Hindus: Their religious beliefs and practices |year=2010 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-45676-0 |page=173 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qv3fCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA173 |quote=The Nāyak caste of the bhopo is among the lowest in the hierarchy of Rajasthan, and is listed officially as a scheduled caste (viz. Untouchable).}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nayak, Naik}}
Category:Social groups of Andhra Pradesh
Category:Social groups of Gujarat
Category:Social groups of Haryana
Category:Scheduled Castes of Rajasthan
{{India-ethno-stub}}