Vilakkithala Nair

The Velakkathala Nair (or Vilakkithalavan) are a caste of barbers found in Kerala state, India, who traditionally barbered the Nambuthiris and Nair castes. They were historically not allowed to marry higher subdivisions of the Nair community. Christopher Fuller noted in 1975 that they were "not regarded as being 'real' Nairs at all, and they are ranked by most people - Nairs as well as non-Nairs - considerably below 'real' Nairs, being accorded a status approximately equal to the artisan castes".^[1]

References

^ Fuller, C. J. (Winter 1975). "The Internal Structure of the Nayar Caste". Journal of Anthropological Research. 31 (4): 304. JSTOR 3629883.(subscription required)

[1] Fuller, C. J. (Winter 1975). "The Internal Structure of the Nayar Caste". Journal of Anthropological Research. 31 (4): 304. JSTOR 3629883.(subscription required)

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