Chapter 7 – Madam Rides the Bus Solutions

Content structure

  • 1. About the Author – Vallikkannan
  • 2. Theme of the Madam Rides the Bus
  • 3. Summary of the Madam Rides the Bus
    • Part – I
    • Part – II
    • Part – III
    • Part – IV
  • 4. Word Meanings
  • 5. Oral Comprehension Check
    • Part – I
    • Part – II
    • Part – III
  • 6. Exercise questions and answers (NCERT)
    • 6A. Thinking about the text
    • 6B. Speaking
    • 6C. Writing

1. About the Author – Vallikkannan

Vallikannan was the pen name of Rajavallipuram S. Krishnasamy, a distinguished Tamil writer, journalist, critic, and translator. He was born on 12 November 1920 in Rajavallipuram, Tamil Nadu. He began writing at a young age and went on to publish 75 works, including novels, poems, plays, and essays. His writing often focused on social issues, and he was known for his sharp ideas and for translating stories into Tamil. He wrote for magazines like Cinema Ulagam, Navasakthi, Grama Oozhiyan, and Hanuman. In 1978, Vallikannan received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his book Pudukavithaiyin Thottramum Valarchiyum. Some of his well-known works are Bharathidasanin Uvamai Nayam, Saraswathi Kalam, and Thamizhil Siru Pathirikkaigal. He passed away on 9 November 2006.

2. Theme of the Madam Rides the Bus

  • The story shows the desires, curiosity, and feelings of a small eight-year-old child who wants to explore the natural world and everything around her.
  • It shows that this is not only a cheerful bus trip for Valli but also a journey that helps her understand the real world.
  • It highlights her innocence by showing how her excitement transforms into sadness upon seeing the dead cow. This reflects how quickly joy can turn into sorrow in real life, teaching a child about the seriousness of life.

The story teaches that curiosity and courage help us learn and grow through real-life experiences. It also shows that maturity comes from understanding both joy and sorrow in the world around us.

3. Summary of the Madam Rides the Bus

Part – I

Valli was an eight-year-old girl who loved watching everything that happened outside her house. Since she had no friends to play with, most of her time was spent standing at the front door, looking at the street. Her favorite sight was the bus that passed through her village every hour on its way to a nearby town. Seeing different people on the bus each time made her cheerful and excited. She often dreamed of taking a ride on that bus and exploring the town herself. Valli felt jealous and didn’t want to listen whenever her friends talked about their visits to the town. She would simply shout, “Proud! Proud!” without knowing what the word really meant. Valli learned that the town was six miles away, the fare was thirty paise one way, and the trip took about forty-five minutes by carefully listening to people’s conversations. She also found out that it was possible to leave at 1 o’clock and return by 2:45. Valli became more excited about the bus ride as the days went by.

Part – II

One beautiful spring afternoon Valli finally got the chance to ride the bus to town. She called out for the bus to stop and showed the conductor her money just before it left. He was surprised to see such a small girl traveling alone but smiled and jokingly called her “madam” as he invited her to get on. Feeling a little shy she climbed into the bus while the other passengers laughed and she quickly found a seat at the front. The bus was new and bright with shiny metal bars and soft comfortable seats. Valli looked out the window with excitement but when a curtain blocked her view she stood up on the seat to see outside. She was amazed by the beautiful scenery which included green fields, a canal, tall palm trees, distant hills and a clear blue sky. As she stood enjoying the view a kind old man gently asked her to sit down for her own safety but Valli didn’t like being treated like a child and proudly said that she had paid her fare just like everyone else. The conductor handed her a ticket and reminded her to sit properly and she told him firmly that she was eight years old and didn’t want to be called a child. More passengers got on the bus after some time, so Valli quickly sat down to keep her seat. A woman came and sat beside her and tried to start a conversation but Valli didn’t like her thinking she looked odd and smelled strongly of betel nut. Valli became annoyed when the woman began asking too many personal questions, so she gave a short reply and turned away to quietly enjoy the view outside.

Part – III

Valli had been dreaming about her first bus ride for a long time so she carefully planned everything and saved every little coin she could find. She managed to save sixty paise by avoiding sweets, toys and rides, even when she really wanted them. She chose the afternoon when her mother usually took a nap, knowing it would be the best time to leave the house without being noticed. She enjoyed every moment of the journey, watching the open fields, small villages and roadside shops pass by. Valli laughed out loud at one point when a cow walked right in front of the bus and refused to move, even though the driver kept honking, and the scene made her so happy. The bus reached the town, and Valli was amazed by the big shops, shiny displays, and huge crowds, but she didn’t get off. She told the conductor that she only wanted to ride the bus, not visit the town. He offered to buy her a drink but she politely refused because she didn’t want to accept anything for free. She gave him thirty more paise for the return journey and waited quietly for the bus to start. However, the bus moved again Valli sat feeling proud and happy about her little adventure.

Part – IV

Valli stayed excited on the way back home and told the conductor that no one would be looking for her. As the bus moved along she enjoyed the same sights as before, but something soon made her stop smiling. She saw a cow lying dead on the side of the road. It was the same cow that had run in front of the bus earlier and made her laugh, but now the sight made her feel sad. She did not feel like looking outside anymore and sat quietly until the bus reached her village. She stood up when the bus stopped, stretched, and thanked the conductor. The conductor smiled and told her to come again for another ride but not to forget her fare. She laughed, hopped off the bus, and ran straight home. Her mother was awake and talking with Valli’s aunt, who asked where Valli had been in a lazy way as if she didn’t really expect an answer. Valli smiled and said nothing. Her mother said that so many things happen in the world that people don’t always notice or understand. Valli quietly agreed but didn’t explain anything. She only smiled to herself and felt proud of her secret little adventure.

This story was originally written in Tamil, translated into English by K. S. Sundaram and beautifully illustrated by the famous cartoonist R. K. Laxman.

4. Word Meanings

WordMeaning
wistfullyLooking at something with a little sadness
kindleTo start or stir up a feeling
discreet questionsQuiet, careful questions
slack timea time when there is not much work
haughtilyproudly
mimickingcopying
repulsiveVery disgusting
curtlyshowing displeasure
drivelsilly nonsense
thriftilyspend money carefully
resolutely stifledStrongly stopped a feeling or desire
ventured outWent out bravely
thoroughfarea busy public road
merchandisethings for sale
spreadeagledLying with arms and legs stretched out wide
hauntedSomething that stays in your mind and makes you feel uneasy
pokes her nosetakes an interest in something that doesn’t concern her
overwhelmingToo strong to handle
gleamingVery shiny
tremendous roarVery loud sound
gobbling upRushing toward as if to swallow

5. Oral Comprehension Check

Part – I

1. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
Ans: Valli’s favourite pastime was standing at the front door of her house and watching everything that happened on the street. Since she had no friends to play with, she found great joy in observing people and vehicles going up and down the road.

2. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
Ans: The bus that passed through Valli’s village every hour always made her happy. She enjoyed watching the new people on it each time, and slowly, she began to dream of riding the bus and visiting the town herself.

3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details?
Ans: Valli found out that the town was six miles away the bus fare was thirty paise, and the ride took about forty-five minutes. She learned all this by carefully listening to people who had travelled on the bus and by asking a few quiet questions.

4. What do you think Valli was planning to do?
Ans: Valli was planning to secretly take a bus ride to the nearby town and come back before anyone noticed. She saved money for the fare and chose the afternoon when her mother usually took a nap so she could leave without anyone knowing.

Part – II

1. Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
Ans: The conductor calls her ‘madam’ because she acts like an adult and speaks with confidence. He finds her serious and independent behavior funny, so he playfully calls her ‘madam’ to tease her.

2. Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?
Ans: Valli stands up on the seat because a curtain on the window blocks her view, and after standing, she can enjoy the beautiful scenery outside, such as green fields, palm trees, hills, a canal, and the bright blue sky.

3. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child?
Ans: The elderly man tells Valli to sit down and calls her a child, which upsets her. Valli proudly replies that she is not a child and says she has paid for her ticket just like all the other passengers.

4. Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?
Ans: Valli didn’t like the elderly woman sitting next to her because she found her unpleasant with her big earrings, wrinkled face, and the strong smell of betel nut. Valli also felt that the woman talked too much, so she behaved rudely because she was more interested in the scenery.

Part – III

1. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?
Ans: Valli saved money by carefully putting aside every coin she got. She didn’t buy sweets, toys, or rides, even when she really wanted to. It was not easy, especially at the village fair, but she stayed strong and saved sixty paise.

2. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?
Ans: Valli saw a young cow running in front of the bus with its tail high in the air. The driver kept honking, but the cow ran even faster. She thought it was very funny and laughed so much that her eyes filled with tears.

3. Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station?
Ans: Valli didn’t get off the bus because she only wanted to enjoy the ride, not visit the town. Since she was alone and didn’t know the place, she stayed on the bus to go back home safely.

4. Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her?
Ans: Valli refused the conductor’s offer for a drink because she didn’t want to accept anything for free. This shows that she was proud, honest, and careful with money, and even though she was a child, behaved in a mature and responsible way.

6. Exercise questions and answers (NCERT)

6A. Thinking about the text

1. What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.
Ans: Valli’s deepest desire was to ride on the bus to the town. The story says, “a tiny wish crept into her head and grew there: she wanted to ride on that bus, even if just once.” It also says that this wish became “an overwhelming desire.”

2. How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus, and how did she save up the fare?
Ans: Valli carefully listened to people who got off the bus and asked small questions to find out that the town was six miles away, the bus fare was thirty paise one way, and the journey took forty-five minutes. She saved the money by not spending on sweets, toys, or rides, even though she really liked them.

3. What kind of a person is Valli? To answer this question, pick out the following sentences from the text and fill in the blanks. The words you fill in are the clues to your answer.
(i) “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised ________________
(ii) “Yes, I _____________ go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the
bus.
(iii) “There’s nobody here _______________,” she said haughtily. “I’ve paid my thirty paise like everyone else.”
(iv) “Never mind,” she said, “I can ____________. You don’t have to help me. ”I’m not a child, I tell you,” she said, ________________.
(v) “You needn’t bother about me. I ______________,” Valli said, turning her face toward the window and staring out.
(vi) Then she turned to the conductor and said, “Well, sir, I hope ___________________.”
Ans: These sentences show that Valli is brave, confident, independent, and does things on her own.
(i) “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised commandingly.
(ii) “Yes, I simply have to go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the bus.
(iii) “There’s nobody here who’s a child,” she said haughtily. “I’ve paid my thirty paise like everyone else.”
(iv) “Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself. You don’t have to help me.” “I’m not a child, I tell you,” she said, irritably.
(v) “You needn’t bother about me. I can take care of myself,” Valli said, turning her face toward the window and staring out.
(vi) Then she turned to the conductor and said, “Well, sir, I hope to see you again.”

4. Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘madam’?
Ans: The conductor calls Valli ‘madam’ in a playful way because she behaves like an adult. She speaks seriously, refuses help, and wants to be treated with respect, so the conductor jokingly calls her ‘madam’ as if she were a grown-up lady.

5. Find the lines in the text which tell you that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus.
Ans: The story says, “Valli devoured everything with her eyes,” which shows how excited and curious she was during the ride. It also says, “She laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes,” when she saw the cow, showing how happy and full of joy she felt.

6. Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?
Ans: Valli saw the same cow lying dead on the road, which made her feel very sad. The sight of the lifeless animal took away all her joy. She became quiet and lost her excitement, so she didn’t feel like looking outside anymore.

7. What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.”
Ans: Valli means that she had taken a bus ride without her mother knowing, and she agrees with her mother’s words in her own quiet way while thinking about her secret adventure. This shows that she had a new experience and learned something important by herself.

8. The author describes the things that Valli sees from an eight-year-old’s point of view. Can you find evidence from the text for this statement?
Ans: Yes, the author has described various things from an eight-year-old’s point of view. For example, Valli is described as “fascinated by the bus,” and “watching the bus fill with a new set of people each time was a source of unending joy for her.” The author focuses on the colour and appearance of the bus: “its outside painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides” and “the overhead bars shone like silver.” This shows how a child is attracted to bright and shiny things. The description of “soft and luxurious” seats reflects the excitement of a child experiencing the comfort of a bus for the first time. Phrases like “the blue sky” and “acres and acres of green field” capture a child’s wonder and enthusiasm. Valli laughs when she sees a cow running in front of the bus, but later feels sad when she sees the same cow lying dead on the road. The memory of the dead cow upsets her so much that she refuses to look out of the window on her return journey. These moments clearly show the thoughts and emotions of an eight-year-old child.

6B. Speaking

This story has a lot of people talking in it. The conductor jokes and laughs with Valli, some passengers try to show their concern for her, and her mother and her aunt spend time chatting.
Read the conversations carefully. Then think of similar people, or similar situations that you have experienced. Mimic a person or persons who spoke to you, saying what they said, along with your replies.

A Conversation on the School Bus

One morning, I was sitting alone on the school bus, looking out the window and enjoying the breeze. Suddenly, our bus driver, Uncle Ramesh, looked at me in the mirror and smiled.

Uncle Ramesh: “Why so quiet today? Lost in your own world, like a little poet?”
Me: (laughing) “No, Uncle! Just thinking about the science test.”
Uncle Ramesh: “Ah, science! When I was your age, I thought the sun revolved around me!”

Everyone on the bus laughed. Then, an older boy sitting behind me leaned forward.

Boy: “Don’t worry, I heard the test is easy. I revised on the bus yesterday.”
Me: “Really? That helps. Thanks!”

Later, my best friend boarded the bus and sat next to me.

Friend: “I dreamt that we both forgot our notebooks and the teacher made us do 100 jumping jacks!”
Me: (grinning) “Then we better check our bags before we reach!”

6C. Writing

Write a page — about three paragraphs — on one of the following topics.

1. Have you ever planned something entirely on your own, without taking grown ups into your confidence? What did you plan, and how? Did you carry out your plan?
Ans:

A Surprise Picnic I Planned

Yes, I once planned a surprise picnic for my friends during the winter holidays without telling any grown-ups. I had noticed that all of us were feeling bored sitting at home, so I spoke to a few of my close friends and chose a nearby park that was safe, quiet, and easy for everyone to reach. It seemed like the perfect place for a small picnic. I saved my pocket money to buy some snacks and paper plates, and everyone brought something small from home like juice, chips, sandwiches, and a mat to sit on. We chose a Sunday morning for our plan and simply told our parents that we were going out to play. Once we reached the park we set everything up and had a wonderful time together. We played games, shared food, and laughed a lot. It felt amazing to plan something all by myself and see everyone so happy. That day gave me confidence and taught me how much joy a small effort can bring.

2. Have you made a journey that was unforgettable in some way? What made it memorable?
Ans:

An Unforgettable Journey

One of the most unforgettable journeys I have ever taken was a trip to Jaipur with my family during the winter holidays. We visited many beautiful places like Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal, and Jantar Mantar. The city was full of colours, history and lively culture. I still remember the excitement I felt while taking an elephant ride at Amer Fort and watching the city lights from Nahargarh Fort in the evening. We also explored local markets and tasted delicious Rajasthani food, especially dal baati churma. The most special part of the trip was staying in a heritage hotel that looked just like a royal palace. It was the first time I truly felt like I was living inside history. This journey will always remain close to my heart because it was filled with fun, learning, and special memories with my family.

3. Are you concerned about traffic and road safety? What are your concerns? How would you make road travel safer and more enjoyable?
Ans:

My Thoughts on Traffic and Road Safety

Yes, I am very concerned about traffic and road safety. Every day, we hear about accidents caused by careless driving, not wearing helmets, or ignoring traffic rules. Many people especially youngsters, drive too fast or use mobile phones while riding which leads to serious accidents. It is also common to see people break signals or not use seat belts, which increases the risk on roads for everyone. I believe that road safety should be taught from a young age, starting in schools. Strict rules must be followed and people who break them should be fined properly. More traffic police should be placed in crowded areas and roads should have clear signs, zebra crossings, and working traffic signals. If everyone follows the rules and drives carefully travelling on roads will become much safer and more pleasant for all.

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