Chapter 7 – Madam Rides the Bus
By Vallikannan
Oral Comprehension Check
Page 119
Q1. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
Her favourite pastime was standing in the doorway of her house, watching the street outside.
Q2. What was the source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
The bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town gave her endless joy. Her strongest desire was to ride that bus.
Q3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details?
She found out that the town was six miles away, the fare was thirty paise one way, and the trip took forty-five minutes. She gathered this information by listening to conversations between neighbours and regular passengers.
Q4. What do you think Valli was planning to do?
She was planning to take the bus to town and back, all on her own.
Page 122
Q1. Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
He teasingly calls her “madam” because she behaved like a grown-up, demanding respect and seriousness.
Q2. Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?
She stood up because her view was blocked by the canvas blind. She saw the canal, palm trees, distant mountains, fields, and a blue sky.
Q3. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child?
She insists that she is not a child and that she has paid her fare just like the others.
Q4. Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?
The woman was chewing betel nut, her gums were red, and she seemed nosy. Valli did not find her appealing and avoided conversation.
Page 125
Q1. How did Valli save up money for her first journey?
She resisted buying peppermints, balloons, and toys, and avoided riding the merry-go-round, carefully saving every stray coin.
Q2. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?
She saw a young cow running in the middle of the road with its tail up. The scene amused her and made her laugh uncontrollably.
Q3. Why didn’t she get off the bus at the town?
She didn’t have money for both sightseeing and her return journey. She wanted to ensure she could return home safely.
Q4. Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her?
She refused because she had no money left. This shows she was disciplined, self-respecting, and responsible.
✦ Thinking about the Text (Page 127–128)
Q1. What was Valli’s deepest desire? How did she fulfil it?
Her deepest desire was to ride the bus to town. She saved money, gathered information, and one day boarded the bus without telling anyone. She enjoyed the journey and returned safely, fulfilling her dream.
Q2. How did Valli save money for the ride?
She controlled her temptations: she didn’t buy sweets, toys, or rides on the merry-go-round. She even ignored her friends’ teasing, saving thirty paise each way.
Q3. What did Valli see on her journey?
She saw the canal, mountains, fields, distant sky, palm trees, a cow amusingly running, and later a dead cow on the return journey, which saddened her.
Q4. Why didn’t she get down in the town? What lesson do you learn from her decision?
She stayed on the bus because she wanted only the experience of riding, not to wander in the town. This shows her maturity, careful planning, and discipline.
Q5. How did Valli react on seeing the dead cow?
The sight shocked and saddened her. The dead cow reminded her of the earlier playful cow, revealing the harsh reality of life and death.
Extra Questions & Answers
Short Answer
-
Why did Valli avoid telling her plan to her mother?
Because she wanted independence and excitement, keeping her secret made her journey more thrilling. -
What kind of girl was Valli?
She was curious, observant, disciplined, independent, and brave beyond her age. -
What is the irony in the story?
The irony is that Valli fulfilled her dream but also confronted the reality of death through the dead cow, maturing in the process.
Long Answer
Q. What does the story ‘Madam Rides the Bus’ tell us about child psychology?
The story beautifully captures the curiosity, determination, and innocence of a child. Valli is fascinated by the bus and secretly plans her first ride. Her actions show how children observe adults, gather information, and plan carefully to fulfil their desires. She shows maturity in saving money and resisting temptations, yet her excitement and amazement reveal her innocence.
Her reaction to the cow shows the sensitivity of children. While she laughed uncontrollably at the playful cow, she was deeply saddened by its death. This shift from joy to sorrow mirrors a child’s first encounters with the realities of life. Vallikannan portrays how children dream big but also learn important life lessons from small experiences.
Summary of Madam Rides the Bus
The story is about an eight-year-old girl named Valli who lives in a village. Her favourite pastime was watching the bustling street outside her home. Among all activities, the bus running between her village and the nearby town fascinated her the most. She longed to ride it.
She carefully observed and collected details: the fare was thirty paise one way, the journey lasted forty-five minutes, and the town was six miles away. Determined, she saved money by avoiding small pleasures like sweets and toys.
One afternoon, when her mother was napping, Valli seized the opportunity and boarded the bus. The conductor teased her respectfully as “madam.” She enjoyed the scenery: fields, mountains, the blue sky, and a playful cow on the road. She felt thrilled and proud of her independence.
At the town, she chose not to get off, as her plan was only to ride the bus. On her return, she saw a dead cow, which saddened her and contrasted sharply with the earlier scene of joy.
The story ends with Valli quietly keeping her adventure a secret. It portrays her growth from excitement to maturity as she learns about life’s beauty and harshness.
✦ Biography of Vallikannan
Vallikannan (1920–2006) was a renowned Tamil writer, journalist, critic, and translator. Born R. S. Krishnasamy in December 1920 in Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu, he adopted the pen name Vallikannan early in his literary career.
He began writing as a teenager and published his first short story in 1937. Over the decades, Vallikannan became one of the most respected voices in Tamil literature. His works spanned short stories, novels, literary criticism, poetry, and biographies.
As a journalist, he contributed significantly to Tamil magazines and newspapers, shaping literary criticism in the state. His style combined simplicity with depth, often exploring social issues, human psychology, and everyday experiences.
One of his most popular works for students is Madam Rides the Bus, which captures the innocence and curiosity of childhood. His ability to portray ordinary lives with sensitivity made him a beloved writer.
Vallikannan was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award (1978) for his critical work Tamil Ilakkiya Varalaru (History of Tamil Literature). He also translated works into Tamil, enriching its literary tradition.
He passed away in 2006, leaving behind a legacy of over 75 published works. Vallikannan is remembered as a versatile writer who made Tamil literature accessible and engaging to a wide audience.