Introduction: Madam Rides the Bus - Class 10 PDF Download

About the Author —Vallikkannan
Vallikkannan– A Short Biography

About the Author

Vallikannan is the pseudonym of the famous writer R.S. Krishnaswamy.  He was born in a village near Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu on 12 November 1920 and died on 9 November 2006. He was a famous Tamil writer, journalist, critic and translator. He started writing at a very young age and had published  25 books by the time he turned thirty. He wrote a total of 75 books in his life.  He wrote novels, poetry collections, plays and essays. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award in 1978, for his critical works on modem Tamil poetry.

INTRODUCTION

This is a story about the first bus journey of an eight-year-old girl. Valli. She was a curious girl. she had a strong desire to go to the nearest town by riding on a bus. She saves money for this purpose. When she has money for the ticket. she boards the bus. She enjoys her first bus journey. She does not get down the bus in the town. She remains sitting at her seat. She pays another thirty paise for the ticket and reaches back home .

Theme

`Madam Rides the Bus’ is the story of an eight-year-old girl Valli. She was a wonderful girl. She was mature, clever, practical and self-respecting beyond her age. Standing in the front doorway and watching what was happening in the street was her favourite pastime. She was a great planner. She thriftily saved every penny that came her way for her first bus journey. During her first bus journey, Valli was full of enthusiasm and excitement. She enjoyed the landscape, the canal, palm trees, distant mountains and green fields stretching out as far as her eye could see. She reacted strongly when she was called ‘a child’ or ‘madam’. The self-respecting girl refused to accept a free cold drink offered by the bus conductor. She planned her bus journey during the nap hours of her mother. Interestingly, her mother could never know of the bus journey her daughter undertook during her nap in the afternoon.

WORD-MEANINGS

 Induction = entry (प्रवेश); mystery = secret (रहस्य); gap = difference (अंतर); Curious = eager (उत्सुक); pastime = hobby (शौक); elaborate= detailed (विस्तृत); Fascinating = attractive (आकर्षक); gradually = slowly (धीरे -धीरे); Overwhelming = strong (मजबूत) ; stare= look fixedly (घुरना); wistfully = with longing (इच्छासे) ; kindle=create (पैदाकरना,उकसाना); longing= strong desires (तीव्रइच्छाएँ); slang = informal language (अनौपचारिकभाषा); disapproval=refusal (असहमति); discreet= quiet (शांत);various= many (कई); scarcely= hastily (मुश्किलसे);calculated =make a count (गिनतीकरनाt); Highway= main road (मुख्यसड़क); crawl = move slowly (रेंगना); stretched = spread (फैलाहुआ); Jolly sort = happy (खुश); slack time = when there is not much work (जबअधिककामनहो); Gleaming = shining (चमकताहुआ); stripes = parallel lines (समांतरपंक्तियाँ); windshield=windscreen (विंडस्क्रीन); luxurious = comfortable (आरामदायक); devoured = (here) looked attentively (ध्यान से देखना ); canvas blind = curtain of thick cloth (मोटे कपड़े का पर्दा ); peered over = looked over (ऊपर देखना); dith= pothole (खड्डा); startled = surprised (हैरान); Concerned = worried (चिंतित); annoyed = angry (नाराज); haughtily = proudly (गर्व से); chimed in = spoke sweetly (मधुरता से बोला); glance = look (देखा); mimicking = copying (नक़ल की)punched = made holes (छिद्र किया ); bump = strike (टकराना); irritably = with Imitation (गुस्से से); absolutely= compulsive (पूरी तरह से ); repulsive = hateful (घृणित); lobes = outer part of the ear (कान का बाहरी भाग); ugly=dirty (गंदी); betel = a chewing leaf (पान); chewing = munching (चबानाl); spill over = fall (गिरना); Sociable = amiable (मिलनसार); curtly = drily (रूखेपन से); drivel = nonsense (बकबास); painstaking = painful (कष्टदायक); Elaborate = detailed (विस्तृत); thriftily = careful in spending money (मितव्ययी); resisting = suppressing (दबाना); temptation = attraction (आकर्षक); resolutely = with determination (इरादे से.); stifled = suppressed (दबाया); merry-go-round = around swing (झूला); slip out = go out secretly (चुपके से जाना); nap = short sleep (थोड़ी नींद); excursions = picnics  (पिकनिक); Ventured out = went out (बाहर गई ); landscape = land scene (भू-दृश्य); tiny = small (छोटा), hamlet = village (गाँव); gobbling = eating (खाना); pedestrian crossing = footpath (पैदल रास्ता ); obstacles = hindrances (रुकावटें.); clapped = beat (बजाना); glee = joy (ख़ुशी); honked = sounded (बजाया); frightened=fearful (भयभीत); galloped = ran (भागी); Speck = small sign (छोटा चिन्ह); tremendous = great, high (महान ,ऊँचा); roar = loud sound (तेज आवाज़); rattle = rattling sound (खड़-खड़ की आवाज़); traversed = crossed, travelled (पार किया); thoroughfare = common path (आम रास्ता); glittering = shining (चमकता हुआ ); displays = shows (दिखाना);merchandise = things for sale (बेचनें की वस्तुएं); dumb = silent (खामोश); gaped = looked with wonder ( हैरानी से देखा); Treat = offering service (सेवा भेंट करनाr); firmly = strongly (मजबूती से); shrugged = pulled shoulders back (कंधे उचकाना); Excitement = ecstasy (जोश); nodded = shook head (सिर हिलाना); horrible = fearful (भयभीत) spread-eagled = with legs spread (टाँगें फैलाकार); haunted = come to mind again and again (मन में बार –बार आना)dampening = making less (कम करना); enthusiasm = courage (साहस); glued = fixed (स्थिर); Stretched = expanded (फैला); chatterbox = talkative (बातूनी); a chit of a  girl=a small girl (छोटी लड़की)pokes her nose = interferes (दखल देना)