Gujarat State Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, visited the City of Madurai in Tamil Nadu on 16th February 2009 to address a gathering of 5000 people from sourashtra community and launch a project RISHI (Research Institute of Sourashtra Heritage and Immigration) arranged by Sourashtra University.

Mr. Modi arrived in Flight at Madurai Airport around 2 PM in a private aircraft. The function has been organised without any political colour and has been addresed to the community people of Sourashtra in Madurai.

The Hall has been closed one hour before the shedule time after thorough checking and the security guards locked the hall.

Door Metal Detector was placed in 3 places in the seminar hall and went on without any incidents.

Dr. Modi Addressed the gathering during the function titled "Sourashtra Samuha Sangamam" about the development of Gujarat State.

Mr. Modi unveiled the statue of KLN Krishnan, founder of KLN College of Engineering and released a book on Venkataramana Bhaghavathar, a disciple of Thyagaraja penned by T.R.Damodaran.

K. B. Kamlesh Joshipura, Vice-Chancellor, Saurashtra University, announced that a Sourashtrian Chair would be created in the university and research undertaken on migrants from Sourashtra.

K. N. K. Ganesh, president, K. L. N. Sourashtra College of Engineering Council, and its secretary, S. V. S. Shivnath; K. V. Bala, president, Sourashtra Chamber of Commerce, and C. K. Narasimhachary, president, Sourashtra Samuga Nala Peravai, spoke about the contribution of Sourashtrians to the development of education, industry and culture in Tamil Nadu.

T. L. Parasuram, Managing Trustee, Research Institute of Sourashtra Heritage and Immigration, explained how the migrants were living in perfect harmony with the locals here.