Krishnasamy was born in Rajavallipuram near Tirunelveli. He started writing at a very young age and had published twenty five books by the time he was 30. He worked for magazines like Cinema Ulagam, Navasakthi, Grama Oozhiyan and Hanuman. He also wrote under the pseudonyms “Naiyandi Bharathi” and “Koranathan”. He wrote a total of 75 books in his life – novels, novellas, poetry collections, plays and essay anthologies.
In 1978, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil for his critical work on modern Tamil poetry Pudukavithaiyin Thottramum Valarchiyum (lit. The birth and growth of Modern Tamil Poetry). He died in 2006.
Madam Rides the Bus Theme
The story shows how curious children are and how easily they are fascinated by new things. The story explores the curiosity of children and how it does not end without them experiencing the delights of fantasy life. The eight-year-old girl manages to responsibly make a trip to and back from the town just because of her enthusiasm about bus rides. The author tries to show us the world the way a child sees it.
Through Valli in Madam Rides the Bus, Vallikannan depicts the curious nature of the children. The story also shows that how easily children are fascinated by new things and their curiosity doesn’t end without them experiencing the delights of fantasy life in their life. Just as we see Valli has a desire to go on a bus ride and she manages to go all alone. The experience of her first bus ride has been depicted by Vallikannan in a humorous and rambling way. Through the story, we get to see the world from the perspective of a child.
Madam Rides the Bus SUMMARY
Hello, children! I hope you’re all doing well today. Before we dive into the story of “Madam Rides the Bus,” let me ask you a few questions to see what you already know. Can you tell me if you’ve ever taken a bus ride? What was it like, and what do you remember from the experience? Also, have you ever been curious about something so much that it became a strong desire? Take a moment to think about it, and feel free to share your thoughts.
Now, let’s explore the story together. The protagonist of our story is a girl named Valliammai, or Valli for short. She’s eight years old and very curious about the world around her. Her favorite pastime is standing at the front doorway of her house, observing the activities on the street. Can you imagine what kinds of things she might see from her front door?
One day, Valli becomes captivated by the bus that travels between her village and the nearest town. The bus passes through her street, and she finds great joy in watching it with its ever-changing set of passengers. As she observes the bus day after day, a strong desire grows within her – she wants to ride that bus, even if it’s just once.
Valli’s journey to ride the bus involves careful planning. She learns about the town, the fare, and the duration of the trip by listening to conversations and discreetly asking questions. Eventually, the day comes when Valli seizes the opportunity to board the bus. Picture this: she stops the bus with a small but commanding voice, and the conductor, amused by her determination, invites her to get on.
As Valli takes her seat on the bus, she experiences a mix of excitement and shyness. The bus is described as new and beautiful, with silver overhead bars, a clock above the windshield, and soft, luxurious seats. However, her view outside is partially blocked by a canvas blind. Undeterred, Valli stands on her seat to peer over the blind, revealing a picturesque landscape of a canal, palm trees, green fields, and distant mountains.
During the bus ride, Valli encounters various characters, including a jolly conductor, an elderly woman with betel nut chewing habits, and a concerned elderly man. The story unfolds with humor and curiosity as Valli navigates the new experience.
As the bus approaches the town, Valli decides not to disembark and instead chooses to return home on the same bus. The return journey is filled with more sights and sounds, but a tragic event, the death of a young cow, dampens Valli’s spirits. Despite this, she remains eager and excited until the bus reaches her village, where she bids farewell to the conductor and runs home.
So, children, that’s a glimpse into the delightful and adventurous story of “Madam Rides the Bus.” What do you think of Valli’s journey? Can you relate to her curiosity and excitement? Feel free to share your thoughts or ask any questions you may have!
Madam Rides the Bus Character Sketch
Valli, an eight-year-old girl, displayed remarkable maturity beyond her years. Standing at the doorway, she found solace in observing the world around her, making it her favorite pastime. Her adept planning allowed her to save enough money for a bus journey, a journey that became a profound experience.
Valli’s Enthusiasm and Excitement
Her heart brimmed with enthusiasm and excitement as she embarked on her bus adventure. The landscape, with its canal, palm trees, mountains, and vast green fields, became a canvas of wonder for Valli. Her joy was contagious as she reveled in the hustle and bustle of buses departing and arriving.
Strong Reactions to Labels
Valli had a strong aversion to being labeled as a ‘child’ or ‘madam.’ This reflected her desire to be treated with respect and acknowledged for her individuality. Her refusal of free drinks offered by the bus conductor showcased her commitment to self-respect, a trait uncommon for someone of her age.
Meticulous Planning
What set Valli apart was her meticulous planning. She orchestrated the bus journey in a way that ensured she returned home before her mother woke from her afternoon nap. This careful planning allowed her to indulge in her adventure without her mother’s knowledge.
Unveiling the Reality of Death
As Valli embarked on her bus journey, the experience unraveled the reality of death for her. This innocent yet profound realization added depth to her character, showcasing her ability to comprehend and reflect on life’s intricacies.
Madam Rides the Bus - Key Points
The narrative revolves around the brave eight-year-old Valli, driven by an earnest desire to experience the world beyond her doorstep. The story highlights her courage, meticulous planning, and responsible fulfillment of her desires. Valli’s journey is a blend of innocence and responsibility, providing readers with a poignant exploration of childhood curiosity.
Textual Questions and Answers
Question 1: What was the source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
Answer: The sight of the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending joy for Valli.
Her strongest desire was to take a ride on the bus.
Question 2: What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find these details?
Answer : Valli found out that the bus journey to the town took 45 minutes and the one-way fare costed 30 paisa. She listened carefully to the conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus and asked a few discreet questions
here and there. This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey.
Question 3 : Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
Answer : The conductor called Valli ‘madam’ because she behaved like a
woman. She declined(refused) his help. She was very quick in her answers to the
conductor’s questions. This made the conductor call her madam.
Question 4 : Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman ?
Answer : Valli did not want to make friends with the elderly woman because she looked quite repulsive. She had big holes in her ear lobes, and was wearing ugly earrings. Apart from this, she was chewing betel and her mouth was also filled with
betel juice.
Question 5: How did Valli save money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?
Answer : Valli had very painstakingly(earnestly) saved every stray coins that came her way by resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, etc. It had been very difficult for her. Even at the village fair she resisted the temptation to be on the
merry-go-round. Thus, she had been able to save sixty paise for her first bus journey.
Question 6: Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her?
Answer : Valli was too afraid to get off the bus alone. Moreover, she didn’t have enough money to buy herself a drink. Therefore, she didn’t intend on going to the stall for a drink. This shows that Valli was a responsible and careful child who was aware that getting off the bus without an adult could get her in trouble. Moreover, as she did not have the money, she denied the treat offered by the conductor which showed that she was a matured child.
Question 7: Why did Valli stand up on her seat?
Answer: She stood up on her seat because she found her view cut off by a canvas blind.
Question 8: Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?
Answer: On her way to the town, Valli was happy to see a young cow running at high speed in the middle of the road just in front of their bus. But on her way back, she saw a young cow lying dead near the road. She asked the bus conductor if it was the same cow that was running in front of the bus. The bus conductor nodded. She was shocked and sad. So she refuses to look out of the window on her way back because she had seen a dead cow. The memory of the dead cow haunted her. It decreased her enthusiasm.
Question 9: What did Valli see beyond the bank of a canal while on the busride?
Answer: While on the bus ride, Valli saw beyond the canal through the window. There were palm trees, grassland, distant mountains and the blue sky. It was a wonderful scene for Valli.
Question 10: Why was Valli upset on her way back to the village?
Answer: Valli was upset because she had seen a dead cow on her way back from the village.
Founder of Englishfry.com, a captivating and knowledge-driven blog & Founder of Android app/website Studyfunnel.com, an online Mock Test Series Portal. With a wealth of experience spanning over 16+ years, he has excelled as an Ex-professor, Teacher, Author of Non-fiction “Island of Illusion”, Website Developer, Graphic Designer,Blogger,Poet, and Creative academic content writer publisher of 4 academic books. His tryst in Literature helped him realize his love for writing and telling stories. A tech-savvy language nerd by day and, a passionate writer by night, he now translates his experiences into tales of wisdom served with a side of humor.His widely recognized profound insights ,captivating writing style makes him contribute to prestigious publications and a sought-after authority in the field.
