Vivek Express reaches Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: Schoolchildren and people associated with the Ramkrishna Mission thronged the Vivek Express that chugged into the Berhampur railway station. The train showcases the life, philosophy and teachings of Swami Vivekananda. The train will be parked at the railway station here for two days and people can go around it from 10 am to 6 pm. "The response in Berhampur is quite satisfactory," train manager Rabindra Kumar said. Despite the scorching sun, around 700 persons visited the train in the first two hours of the first day, officials said. The five-coach fully air-conditioned train has photographs and write-ups of Swami Vivekananda. It was flagged off from Howrah by Union railway minister Mamata Banerjee on January 12. "We had read about the life of Swamiji in the book. We are now happy to see the life and works of the great Indian saint in photographs" said some schoolchildren, who visited the train. "We can see the life and work of Swamiji in the train instead of going to Belur Math in Kolkata," they added. During its journey, the train will be visit major places across the country before it returns to Howrah on January 12, 2013. Before chugging into Berhampur station, the exhibition wheels has covered several stations in West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand and parts of Orissa, including Bhubaneswar. It was parked at the Mancheswar railway station in Bhubaneswar for three days and over 3,500 people, including several dignitaries visited the train, an officer said. More people are expected to visit it in Berhampur during its two-day halt, said Kumar. Before it leaves Orissa, it will halt at Rayagada and Koraput for three and two days respectively, said a railway officer. The train is a tribute from the Indian Railways to Swamiji on his 150th birth anniversary. The railways had launched this train to encourage the youth to follow the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda and spread religious harmony and unity among the masses, he said.

Source: Times of India