Naikda
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The Naikda are a scheduled tribe found in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India.[1] In Maharashtra the Naikda are also called Katkari, which is derived from the word kathori, which means animal skins.[2]
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.[1]