The Naikda are a scheduled tribe found in the state of Gujarat in India.
Contents
History and origin
The Naikda are found mainly in Surat district in south Gujarat. They trace common ancestry from the Dhodia, another tribal community found in the region. The two communities claim descent from two brothers, the Naikda from Rupa Khatri, and the Dhodia from Dhana Khatri. According to some sources, the word naikda is derived from the word naik, which means a commander. They were said to have once been soldiers in the armies of the local rajahs.
Present circumstances
The Naikda speak Naiki, a dialect which is a mixture of Marathi and Gujarati. Land is the major source of the Naikda community. The community are a combination of land owning and landless, with many now working in industry in the nearby city of Surat.