Who are they?
The Nai are barbers. The name, Nai, is a corrupt form of the Sanskrit word napika, or ‘one who cleans nails’. The traditional occupation of the Nai is cutting hair, beard and nails, shaving, cleaning ears, extracting teeth, setting sprains right and lancing boils. They also perform some rituals and other important duties in connection with marriage, matchmaking and celebrations.
In states like Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh the Nai continue to thrive on their inherited calling and have established salons and beauty parlors as well practicing animal husbandry. As for the poorer Nai, it is a common sight in North India to see them on sidewalks with a rudimentary tool kit of scissors, razors, combs, soap, brushes, a mirror and cup. They cater to poor people from a similar economic background.
Origin
According to myth, they are descended from a Kshatriya (warrior class) father and a Shudra (cultivator class) mother. Another version proposes that the god Shiva, (god of destruction), created them from his navel to cut and clean the nails of his consort Parvati.
Though they interact closely with all other communities, and despite a patron-client relationship, they are still regarded as a low caste community due to their occupation. Higher castes generally do not accept food and water from the hands of the Na and they in turn do not accept the same from some lower castes such as the Chamar (tanner), Balmiki (sweeper), Mochi (cobbler) and Bazigar (acrobat).
Other names
Each region has a distinct name for the Nai. The Nai are fondly called Raja in Punjab; Kuleen in Himachal Pradesh; Khawas in Rajasthan, Sen Samaj or Napit in Haryana, Raja or Ustad (expert); and Nai-Thakur or Savita Samaj in Delhi. Muslim Nai is called Hajjam.
What Are Their Lives Like?
They work as barbers and keep animals but a large-scale occupational change is taking place. In the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, many Nai have taken up employment in other trades or have chosen to work as agricultural labourers. Similarly, in Rajasthan, many educated Nai have taken to business and government and private service; some cultivate their land. In Delhi, they work as traders, contractors, in government service and in the private sector; some have gone on to become doctors and engineers. In Assam tailoring and carpentry are their subsidiary occupations. There are also some politicians and considering their numbers (more than 2.3 million in Uttar Pradesh alone) their role in regional politics is of some importance.
Theirs is a simple diet consisting of wheat, rice, dhal, maize and some seasonal fruit. Root, green vegetables and potatoes are eaten daily and for those who eat meat – occasionally fish, mutton or chicken and eggs. Beef is never eaten. Men and some women drink country liquor though alcohol is not socially acceptable. Men smoke cigarettes and bidi (dried and rolled tendu leaves), and also smoke tobacco from a hookah.
The literacy rate of the Nai is quite low although it has improved a lot in the past few decades. Formal education is accepted and a few boys study up to graduation level. Many continue to leave school due to poverty or from a lack of schools or colleges near where they live. Girls may study up to high school level, but it is common for them to drop out of primary or high school due to social reasons. There are several government incentives and development programs (education, medical and family planning) available to them that have benefitted those who have utilized them. Despite this, many remain socio-economically poor. They use both modern medicine as well as traditional medicines.
Among the Nai, spouses are acquired through negotiation through family contacts. Adult marriages are performed these days though child marriage was once practiced. Vermilion, glass bangles, bindi (red dot in the middle of the forehead) and a nose-ring are the symbols for married women. Monogamy is practiced and polygamy only allowed in some circumstances. Junior levirate and junior sororate forms of remarriage are allowed and preferred. Dowry is given in cash and kind. In marriage alliances, three gotras (clans) are usually avoided – from their own, their mother’s and paternal grandmother’s clans. Divorce, although permitted, is not encouraged and is rare. Widow, widower and divorcee remarriage is allowed. In Punjab though, they do not allow divorce or widow remarriage.
The traditional extended family is still common with some exceptions. Sons inherit equal shares in the family property and the eldest succeeds as head of the family. Nai women (known as nain) are secondary in status to males in all aspects of life; their husbands command maximum respect and authority. Women do household chores as well as help with agriculture and animal husbandry. In rural areas Nai women are attendants at the birth of babies, assisting mothers and their newborn babies with massages and pedicures and manicures for which they are paid in cash and kind. The women also decorate bride’s hands and feet (with henna and red dye.) and at other celebrations. At these celebrations, and at the birth of a male child, the women sing folk songs to the accompaniment of the dholak- a cylindrical or slightly barrel-shaped double-headed drum. During the spring festival of colours, Holi, both men and women sing and dance. The Nai are very social people, which is important to their trade.
A caste council (panchayat) maintains social control over the community. They settle communal disputes regarding marriage, rape and other such matters. These councils have power to impose fines or excommunicate individuals. In Delhi, this caste council has been replaced by a registered society known as Savita Parivar (family). Its members are elected by a voice vote and its main objective is to look after the welfare and advancement of the community. A similar body also exists in Himachal Pradesh.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The Nai are Hindus and worship all Hindu gods and goddesses. They have great reverence for Shiva and Sen Bhagat, a saint from their own caste. In addition, families give importance to a particular deity of their choice. Ganesh (the elephant-headed god), Hanuman (monkey god), Sitala mata (goddess of smallpox), Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) are deities worshipped regularly.
The Nai also give special prominence to their regional deity. For example the Nai of Delhi and Haryana worship Gurgaon Wali Mata (goddess of Gurgaon city), Kalkaji (a form of Kali, goddess of devastation) and Baba Mohan Dass, who is worshipped and invoked for begetting a child. Another important regional Rajasthani deity is goddess Naraini, who was a sati (a virtuous woman who killed herself on her dead husband’s funeral pyre). The Nai of Himachal Pradesh revere Jwalamukhi (volcano goddess), Vaishno Devi, Santoshi Mata (goddess of satisfaction). The shrines of these deities are visited at festival times (especially during the Navratras) and at the fulfillment of a wish.
The Nai believe in evil spirits who, along with local deities, are believed to cause trouble and diseases. Exorcists-cum-witch doctors from their own community are called on. The Nai, like most other Hindus, hold a variety of scriptures in awe either as words of gods and goddesses or divinely inspired utterances.
The major festivals observed by them include Navratri (nine sacred nights) and Dussehra, (festival honouring, in eastern India, the killing of a demon by goddess Durga, a form of Kali, or, in North India, the killing of demon king Ravan by the god Rama.) They also celebrate Diwali (festival of lights) and Holi (spring festival of colors). The Nai utilize the services of a Brahmin priest to perform all birth, marriage and death rituals.
They share all the major centres of pilgrimage with other Hindu castes. These are Haridwar, Varanasi, Prayag (Allahabad), Vaishno Devi, Dwarka, Badrinath in Uttar Pradesh and Jagannath Puri, in Orissa. Some Nai have embraced Sikhism while some follow the egalitarian but guru-lead Nirankari and Radhasoami sects.
What Are Their Needs?
This community needs economic independence as well as increased access to education for girls.
Good morning and Namaste,I am not happy to read the comments here regarding our caste or Samaj. Why should we be ashamed of ourselves? My father had a Salon in East Africa and earned a great respect from everyone. His aim in life was to educate his own children so that they could decide whichever profession they wished to join. After a few years we came to India and finally moved to England. Well, with his inspiration and guidance I decided to be a Teacher. I studied hard and got a Degree from a UK University. I have been teaching… Read more »
Friend I also belong to Nayee samaj. Please create a social group on social media or join All India Nayee Samaj on facebook.
my email=dharmesht7878@gmail.com
Hello Friends I am from delhi and I am based out of haryana , I am a factory owner . Many general caste brothers like baniya , sindhi and punjabis are working in my factory . They doesnt bother out of it . One thing I would proudly say that : WE ARE THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS AT A GOOD PLACE . MANY OF OUR BROTHERS ARE AT VERY AFFLUENT LEVEL IN GOVT AS WELL AS PRIVATE SECTOR . MANY OF OUR BROTHER ARE DAMN GOOD IN BUSINESS . THE PROBLEM WITH THEM IS THAT THEY HIDE THEIR CASTE .… Read more »
I am agree to your comments for this cast
vivek thakur faridabad
7531067867 , 9717633436
Hi, Main nahi Manta ki Naai kisi se peeche hai, haan yeh jaroor hai ki gaon dehaat ke log thoda peeche hai, because wo abhi Purani Pratha se Jude hai, Shadi Karana Galat baat nahi hai lekin is kaam ke Confirm Paise hone chahiye na ki paise ki jagah Wastuye,Main B Com hoon or ek Multinational Company me Asst. Manager ki Post pe hoon, Meri Wife MA, B.ed and Planning for M.ED, Mera Chhota bhai B.Tech Engineer hai or HCL me acchi post pe hai, or doosra bhai business Man hai.Pratha ko chhodna hoga or profession ko apanana hoga, like… Read more »
I, Dharmendra Kumar, from Nai community working in Central Govt.
It is very sad that we have no representation at national level in Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.
Please join Bihar-Jharkhand Whatsapp Group
Hii nai(sharma)
m siya sharma from delhi(badarpur)
nandvanshi ho ya koi bhi ho. ho to nai hi na??? aisa kya kaam karte the hum jo bahut uncha samaj rahe ho. nai purush hair cutting aur shaving karte the. raja maharaja ke body ki maalish karte the mail utaarte the. nakhoon cut karte the. aut nai female daai yani ghar ghar jakar midwife ka kaam karti thi baki free time mai queens ki malish karti thi. aur kuch log s.c category mai joodne k time pe kahte hein ki hum log s.c mai kaise joode hum nich thodi hein. arey s.c mai jo log hei wo kya nich… Read more »
HI friends, i vinod verma searching a boy for my younger sister… if anyone have any well educated and well settled boy..pls do give me a call on 9820379927..
prefer location would be mumbai, pune.
Good Evening I am from odisha. My father was nai. I am very happy and proud to belong this caste. Most of the people hate and criticise our caste.but I show sympathy them because till now they not change.their temperament. .They do not know the history of nais..Our ancestors were Nanda Vanshis. . Nais are economical backward but not social backward. People should think if barbers not available in society what happened. They play an important roll in society .And govt also not showing any interest to development of our caste due to our population is low. and we have… Read more »