From Trichinopalli Rabidranath started for Madurai in the night. He became a guest of Dewan Ganapath. On 14th Feb in a huge gathering he read the essay "The Message of the Forest". In the night he was attacked with influenza. As a result he could not attain his subsequent programme. He took rest for a week and on 21 Feb he read his second essay "The Spirit of Popular Religion" in the assembly hall of American College which was presided by Rama Ayangar . He was greeted by the Members of the Municipal council of Madurai". Next day he went to Union Club where he was greeted by the president of the Club C. Sreenibas. He signed in abook here also and wrote a Message.In the evening he read the essay " Education in India". As this was his last lecture there was huge gathering.The sell proceeds of tickets were Rs 1575/- which was donated to the fund of santiniketan after deduction of expenditure. Due to his illness he suspended his activities upto 23rd Feb. In the evening they started for MadanPalle.
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu with a population of over 1.2 million (census2001). Located on the banks of River Vaigai, Madurai has been a major settlement for two millennia. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The city is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District. The capital of thePandyan kingdom was initially Korkai, around 600 BCE,and was later moved to Koodal (now Madurai) during the reign of Nedunj Cheliyan I. Madurai is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and Madurai Nayak kings in the Dravidian style of architecture. It is also one of India's most prominent Hindu pilgrimage centres.
