Nakhuda
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[Category:Persian names]
Nākhudā (when Anglicised, also written Naghdeh, Nakhooda, Nakhoda, Nakoda and Nacoda) is a term originating from the Persian language which literally means Captain. Derived from nāv boat (from Old Persian) + khudā master, from Middle Persian khutāi a 'Master of a native vessel' or 'Lord of the Ship'.
Historically, people with this epithet are Muslim and Kamili Jewish ship owning merchants of Persian origin, known to have crossed the Persian Gulf to trade in other coastal areas of the world. Therefore, those with the surname Nakhuda can be found in coastal areas of the world such as Iran, Malaysia, Brunei and India.
Besides trade, religious persecution faced by Sunni Muslims, Jews and Zoroastrians under the reign of the Safavid Dynasty in Persia is of great historical relevance to the migration of many Nakhudas. Ship-owners; the Nakhudas were in an advantageous position to flee this persecution and seek refuge in neighbouring countries escaping via the Persian Gulf. India in particular was a prime attraction for both migrant traders and refugees due to its provident nature. This is as it offered economic natural resources, a luxoriant lifestyle for the wealthy, and most importantly, as a nation India was known for the religious freedom prevalent in her society. Hence, why Nakhudas can be found in India today amongst the ethnic minorities of the Bene Israel and Muslalmans who are synonymous for marrying amongst and adopting the customs of the locals; resulting in an Indo-Persian culture of their own like the Parsi community. The East Indian coastal towns of Turk-e-sar/Tadkeshwar and Randher neighbouring the famous port of Surat, in particular have a strong history of Nakhudas dating back to the Mughal and the Safavid Dynasty. It would seem the Nakhudas that originate from Tadkeshwar most probably arrived in Gujarat from Persia during the rule of Persia's Safavid Dynasty (1502-1722). The Nakhudas are all Sunni Muslims and, like many Sunnis that faced persecution under the Safavid Dynasty, immigrated to other Islamic lands - India at that time was under Muslim rule and Gujarat was a particular hotspot for trade and business. It would seem that the Nakhudas originally settled in Rander (close to Surat) which was the most important port of Gujarat at that time. They then most probably travelled inland and settled in Tadkeshwar. There are currently Nakhudas still living in Rander also (of no traceable relation with those in Tadkeshwar). Rander was attacked and ransacked by the Portuguese and the British. Trade in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea was also disrupted by colonial powers. It may be that the Nakhudas, having suffered economic losses, moved in-land and settled in Tadkeshwar. Many of the Nakhudas from Tadkeshwar have immigrated from India during and after the British Raj - Nakhudas can be found in Reunion, South Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, West Indies and other parts of Africa.
Due to the immigrant and interracial nature of the Nakhudas, the descendants of this lineage are reflective of their diverse Persian and Turkish heritage.
Regarding the name Tadkeshwar, in medieval India, all Muslims would generically be called Turks. Present day Turkey did not exist at that time and the Ottoman Empire and its citizens referred to themselves as Ottomanis. In fact the word Turk was commonly used by peasants in Anatolia to describe themselves. During the Ottoman Khilafat it was a derogatory name. With the abolishment of the Khilafa and the birth of the secular state of Turkey, the people who previously described themselves as Ottomanis, inspired by nationalism, began describing themselves as Turks. This was in early 20th century. Tadkeshwar has had its names for centuries before.
Historically, the word Turk in medieval India was used to describe all Muslims. Most of the original Muslim rulers were of Turkic stock. Meaning they originated from North Afghanistan and other parts of Central Asia. The Turks, historically, are not confined to Turkey but are a people found across central Asia. In fact it was in central Asia and Mongolia that they are originally inhabited. The Turks in Turkey, who look European, naturally look different to their relatives in Central Asia, who look Chinese like. This is on account of intermarriages between the Turks and Europeans during the Ottoman Khilafat. Today, the word is primarily used for the inhabitants of Turkey, but may also refer to the members of sizeable Turkish-speaking populations in Kosovo (Serbia[26]), Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and other lands of the former Ottoman Empire. Large Turkish communities have also been established in Western Europe (particularly in Germany), North America and Australia. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_people
In relation to Tadkeshwar, it is the historic meaning that is meant and not the contemporary meaning. Therefore, attempts to draw links between the inhabitants of Tadkeshwar and present day Turkey are weak. Despite historical persecution, Nakhudas however remain in the Islamic Republic of Iran today, many having re-locating from coastal areas such as Qabr-e-Nakhuda, Naghdeh and Nakhleh Nakhuda to the country's capital Tehran and other major cities such as Shiraz and Ishphan. India harbours a Nakhoda Mosque, a Nakhuda Chowk and also a Nakhuda Street. Whilst, films associated with the general meaning of the epithet Nakhuda have also been produced in both India and Iran - 'Nakhuda' and 'Nakhoda Khorshid' The popular bar by the name of [Nakhuda], its interior designed as a Ship cabin is a great place to visit in Dubai, U.A.E.
http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.1:1:637.hobson
http://jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-4995(2000)43%3A1%3C34%3ANANSMI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Q -
