Nakarmi, Kau, Kami, Kaligagdh

 कौ, कलिगढ, कामी र नकर्मी

स्थानीय भाषामा कौ भनिने यो थर कालिगढ, कामी (स्त्रिलिङ्गी) र नकर्मीको रूपमा पनि परिचित छन्। प्रा. माणिक लाल श्रेष्ठको कथन अनुसार कलिगतको अपभ्रंश शब्द कौ हो र मल्लकालमा पेसासँग सम्बन्धित जाति हुने प्रचलन पश्चात् फलाम (नेपाल भाषामा न अथवा भक्तपुरमा न्या) को काम गर्ने भएर न:कमि हुन गएको हो। कालिगढ जाति विभिन्न औजार र हात-हतियार बनाउन निपुण छन्। 

नेवार समुदाय भित्रको नकर्मी जातिको इतिहास कलिगत संवतसँग सम्बन्धित रहेको छ भने, खस समुदायको कामि जातिको इतिहास सिन्धुघाटी सभ्यतासँग सम्बन्धित छ। तसर्थ नकर्मी र कामि जातिको इतिहास धेरै फरक छ।

This surname, known locally as Kau, is also recognized as Kaligad, Kami (referring female), and Nakarmi. According to Prof. Manik Lal Shrestha, the term Kau is derived from the corrupted form of the word Kaligat. During the Malla period, when caste distinctions were associated with professions, those who worked with iron (called Na in Nepal Bhasa or Nya in Bhaktapur) came to be known as Nakarmi. The Kaligadh caste is skilled in making various tools and weapons.

The history of the Nakarmi caste within the Newar community is linked to the Kaligat era, whereas the history of the Kami caste in the Khas community is connected to the Indus Valley Civilization. Therefore, the histories of the Nakarmi and Kami castes are significantly different.