Life history of Swami Vivekananda, his experiences, preachings and principles have come alive at Ashokapuarm railway station. The train ‘Vivek Express’ which arrived in the city on Wednesday from Hubli will be stationed till Thursday to facilitate public to have a glance at the life of the saint.

The exhibition which remains open between 10 am and 6 pm, is formed of two compartments. It begins with the portraits of his mother and  siblings and ancestral house on Simla Street. As one moves further, attractive paintings and rare photographs makes for an interesting watch for  Mysoreans to explore the life of the great saint.

Swami Vivekananda who was known as Narendra Nath Datta in his pre-monastic life,  his early childhood in Bengal where he developed compassion for poor, his attraction towards principles of saints Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Sharada Devi all in the form of exhibits are depicted well.

Swami Vivekananda’s visit to Chicago, USA for world parliament of religions in 1893, establishment of Ramakrishna Mission in 1987 at Kolkata after returning from his tour of America and London, later setting up of Ramakrishna Math at Belur, near Kolkata in early 1898, his life as a saint spreading messages of Hinduism and vedantas to the world is on display. The great speech, Swami made at Chicago addressing the gathering as sisters and brothers, is reproduced here. A photo of Swami’s room at Belur math during his lifetime, is also displayed.

Senior divisional commercial manager, south western railway (SWR), Dr Anup Dayanand Sadhu told Deccan Herald, that it will help students and even public to learn about Swami’s life. It imparts moral education which is important for the present generation to implement them in their lives. The rare pictures and information have been presented by Ramakrishna Mission of Mysore and Belur Math, Kolkata, he added. 

Dr Sadhu said that educational institutions have been informed about the train and requests have also been made to get the students to visit the train.  This is the second time the train has chugged into the city, since it began its journey during September last year. It had visited the city of palaces in November last year.

This year it coincides with 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Earlier to Mysore, Vivek Express, which reached Hubli from Vasco and halted there for a day. It will move to Bangalore cantonment and later to Erode and other places from and will reach Mushirabad near Kolkata concluding its journey in  January, 2013. President of Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysore Muktidanandaji, students of Sri Ramakrishna Vidya Shala and others were present during inauguration.