Man who gives new life to broken toys

Vijayan taught himself the profession by learning on the job

KOCHI

Vijayan T.K. is seated on a low stool, bent over work, at his repair shop at Kaloor. He is trying to fix a battery-operated toy car that has seen better days. His workshop is a colourful jumble of electronic toys in various stages of repair – ride-on cars, bikes and remote-controlled helicopters. In addition are his tools – boxes of nuts, bolts, batteries and springs, bottles of polish and rolls of tape. For the past 14 years, Mr. Vijayan has been giving new life to broken toys at the workshop, which he calls Shalom Toys.