and personal life While studying at the Presidency College, Madras, Alasinga married Rangamma, a girl from a Karnataka Iyengar family. Rangamma was a pious Hindu woman who stood by her husband in all the troubles and difficulties Alasinga faced in life. Rangamma died in 1905. Career After finishing his studies in 1885, Alasinga went to Kumbakonam, and then to Chidambaram, leaving his family behind in Madras. In both these towns, he worked as a school teacher. He came back to Madras in 1889 when his father Chakravarti Narasimhacharya died and decided to settle there. In Madras, he taught as well, working for Pachaiyappa's School in George Town. Within a few years he was promoted to headmaster. Alsinga retained this position for the rest of his life. In 1909, one year prior to his death, Alasinga was appointed as a professor of physics at Pachaiyappa's College. Relationship with Swami Vivekananda Around 1890–1891, Alasinga heard about the upcoming Parliament of the World's Religions being held in Chicago, in the United States in 1893 from S. Parthasarathy Aiyangar. Alasinga and his friends thought this could be a good opportunity for them to present the ideals of Hinduism and Vedanta to the world. They started to search for the best person who could represent India and Vedanta in the Parliament. In December 1892 Swami Vivekananda went to Madras and was staying at the house of Manmathanath Bhattacharya, the first Indian accountant-general of the city. Very soon, Vivekananda was introduced to the public of the city at the Triplicane literary society. Alasinga was an active member of this society. He heard Vivekananda's lecture and felt that he was the right candidate to represent them in Chicago. Alasinga met Vivekananda, they talked, shared their views, their opinions on Vedanta and their motherland and informed Vivekananda about their plans. Vivekananda agreed to visit America as a representative of India (Vivekananda had already been asked the same by the king of Mysore, the Raja of Ramnad and few other disciples). After Vivekananda agreed to go to America, a committee was formed under the leadership of Alasinga to raise funds for the tour. The task of collecting money was difficult. Alasinga even went door to door in hopes of getting money; finally they gathered of 500. At this time the king of Ramnad failed to make good on his promise of financial support for the tour. This made the