Nai

Traditional Indian society was modeled
as a collection of endogamous, or intermarried, subgroups known as jatis
(“birth”). Jatis were organized (and their
social status determined) by the group’s
hereditary occupation, over which the
group held a monopoly. The Nai jati’s
occupation was barbering, a low status
job because it required continual contact with cut human hair, considered
a source of impurity (ashaucha). In
many instances the Nais also served
as messengers.