 Paravas) and the strength of caste leadership are noted by scholars to be much stronger than comparable predominantly Hindu castes in Tamil Nadu.The Christians of Tamil Nadu denote themselves as RC (Roman Catholic) Vellalar, CSI Nadar etc., i.e., they use a combination of the Church and their Hindu caste name.Robert L. Hardgrave, a Professor of Humanities, notes in his work "The Nadars of TamilNad.." that a Christian Nadar would enter into a marital alliance with a Hindu Nadar but never with a Christian of another caste and that they would dine with their Hindu brethren but never with a person of their own faith who was beneath them in the social scale.