'Vishwamanava Express', and story behind the name

The South Western Railway has named the newly introduced Hubballi-Mysuru train (number 17325/17326) that runs via Bengaluru as ‘Vishwamanava Express’.

The name was suggested by journalist Krishna Prasad, who explained the christening of the train in his blog. “(Mysuru MP) Pratap Simha had called for suggestions. His own picks were Kapila Express (after the river which supplies much of Mysuru’s drinking water), Nalwadi Express (after Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar), and Ambari Express (after Dasara motif),” he wrote.

Though they considered the name ‘Mysore Mallige Express’, they abandoned it “because some punster might call it ‘Mysore Mellage’ if the train runs late”. 

“Eventually, we went literary and zeroed in on ‘Vishwa Manava Express’,” Prasad wrote.

“Vishwa Manava’ was the idea espoused by Kuvempu which he explains in an essay: “Every child, at birth, is the universal man. But, as it grows, we turn it into a ‘petty man’ (through caste, creed, religion and race). It should be the function of education to turn it into the original ‘universal man’.” 

The South Western Railway has decided to temporarily augment with one second class sleeper coach for train no. 82653 Yeshwantpur-Jaipur Suvidha Weekly Express with effect from June 22 to September 21 and train no. 82654 Jaipur-Yeshwantpur Suvidha Weekly Express with effect from June 24 to September 23. 

Train no. 82653/82654 Yeshwantpur-Jaipur-Yeshwantpur Suvidha Weekly Express will have the revised composition of two AC 2-tier coaches, four AC 3-tier coaches, 10 second class sleeper coaches, one pantry car and two luggage-cum-brake van with generator.

South Western Railway will also permanently augment with one AC-3 tier coach for Train No. 17323 Hubballi–Varanasi Weekly Express with effect from June 2 and 17323 Varanasi-Hubballi Weekly Express with effect from June 4.  

Train No. 17323/17324 Hubballi–Varanasi–Hubballi Weekly Express will have the revised composition of one AC 2-tier coach, two AC 3-tier coaches, six second class sleeper coaches, six general Second class coaches, two second class luggage-cum-brake van with disabled friendly compartment.