I was born in Bareilly (UP) in 1953, and I am now 70 years old. My parents never went to school, but they valued wisdom in their unique ways. My father ran a small factory…
My Life Tale – Trash Reborn as Toys
I was born in Bareilly (UP) in 1953, and I am now 70 years old. My parents never went to school, but they valued wisdom in their unique ways. My father ran a small factory producing washing soap, though his business often struggled, leaving him indebted. Despite these challenges, my mother’s understanding nature and wisdom had a profound impact on me. One of her many teachings included showing me how trash reborn as toys could bring joy and creativity to life.
I was the youngest of three siblings, with two elder sisters. Back then, societal norms did not favor girls’ education, but my mother, with her intuitive understanding of the importance of learning, ensured all of us attended the best convent school in Bareilly.
As children, we were resourceful and found joy in the simplest things. One of our favorite pastimes was creating toys from trash. Though we hadn’t yet heard the term trash reborn as toys, our creativity brought new life to discarded items, turning them into cherished playthings.
And somewhere there are engineers helping others fly faster than sound. But, where are the engineers helping those who must live on the ground?
– Young Oxfam Poster
A Childhood of Creativity, Exploration, and Trash Reborn as Toys
I don’t remember my mother ever asking me to do homework or study for tests or exams. She was happy with me doing whatever I wanted. We couldn’t afford to buy toys, so we often made our own using old matchboxes, cigarette packets, and other discarded items. I remember a rich relative gifting us a Meccano set. It became my favorite toy for years, and with it, I built numerous models, far beyond those listed in the instruction booklet.
My mother was incredibly kind and understanding. She just let me be, happy to see me play and explore my interests without any pressure to study. At home, there were no books to read, so I read very little as a child. However, despite these shortages, I had a happy and loving childhood. One of the most memorable aspects of that time was how creativity thrived in our home. Trash reborn as toys was not just an idea but a way of life for us, as we turned simple, discarded items into cherished playthings.
I still remember my math teacher, Mrs. Frey, who had a profound impact on me. I had opted for advanced math in Senior Cambridge, and on the very first day, she made an honest confession: “Children, I’m not too good at advanced math, so you will have to figure it out for yourself.” Her sincerity and honesty were striking.
Mrs. Frey soon realized that I was very good at math but struggled with English. She spent hours talking to me in English, which significantly improved my comprehension and expression. Eventually, I earned distinctions in English. Both my mother and Mrs. Frey instilled in me a strong sense of self-esteem and self-worth, qualities that have stayed with me throughout my life.
The defining political slogan at that time was:
GO TO THE PEOPLE, LIVE WITH THEM, LOVE THEM, START FROM WHAT THEY KNOW, BUILD ON WHAT THEY HAVE.
Innovative Education: Trash Reborn as Toys and Its Inspiration to Serve Rural Communities
In 1972, Dr. Anil Sad gopal, a PhD from Caltech and a senior microbiologist at the TIFR, came to IIT to recount his experiences of teaching science to village children in Madhya Pradesh. His talk stirred me deeply. In 1975, I joined Tata Motors in Pune as a graduate engineer trainee. After two years, I concluded that “I was not born to make trucks”. So, in 1978, I took one year off to work for the Hoshangabad Science Teaching Program(HSTP). Since there were no science labs in the villages, all science education consisted of memorization of definitions and formulas.
The HSTP aimed to revitalize the learning of science through simple activities using local, low-cost materials. During the first month, I designed the Matchstick Me canno using bits of a cycle valve tube and matchsticks to make 2-D and 3-Dstructures. This hooked me to science teaching for life and made me realize the importance of using trash reborn as toys.
Revolutionizing Science Education
In 2003, I was invited by Prof. Jayant Narlikar, India’s most decorated astrophysicist, to work at IUCAA’s Children’s Science Centre, located at Pune University. It is a very unique and dynamic science center. Our small team made2-minute short, crisp, and catchy videos on science activities titled Toys from Trash. We also documented them in sequential photographs and books. Today we have over 8700 short videos on YouTube in over 15 languages, with a viewership of over 100million!
Books and Contributions to Learning
I wrote 25 books. My first book, Matchstick Models and Other Science Experiments, has been translated into 13 languages, including Chinese. All the other books were also translated into several Indian languages. All my science activity books and thousands of other educational books can be freely downloaded from my website, http://arvindguptatoys.com.
Some of you who read this article might like to see my TED Talk.
TURNING TRASH INTO TOYS FOR LEARNING https://www.ted.com/talks/arvind_gupta_turning_trash_into_toys_for_learning?language=en
Awards and Recognition
Over the years, I have been fortunate to receive numerous awards for making science fun and accessible for children. In 1988, I was honored with the inaugural National Award for Science Popularization among Children. Later, I received prestigious accolades such as the Distinguished Alumnus Award of IIT Kanpur, INSA’s Indira Gandhi Award for Science Popularization, and the Padma Shri in 2018.
I have had the privilege of conducting workshops in over 3,000 schools across the country, many of them in municipal and economically disadvantaged schools. After every workshop, I see a smile on every child’s face, a gleam of excitement in their eyes. This fills me with great hope for the future. Despite challenges, children are like seeds brimming with potential, waiting for the right environment to flourish. In some workshops, children used trash reborn as toys, an inspiring activity that not only sparked creativity but also taught resourcefulness and sustainability.
Inspiring the Next Generation
The educational terrain in our country, however, is very harsh—almost barren. It is a rocky terrain, full of stones, where even a good seed struggles to survive in the absence of nurturing soil. Intellectuals have a small but historic role to play in this scenario. Whatever our circumstances, we have a humble task: to create a fistful of soil every day. Once there is good soil, millions of flowers will bloom, and one day, we will have a vibrant spring harvest.
In 2011, life threw me a personal challenge when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It has been over 12 years now, and by God’s grace, I am still able to contribute in meaningful ways. One of my deepest passions is children’s literature. Even today, I strive to translate a book a day into Hindi, ensuring young readers have access to stories that inspire and educate them.
The work I do continues to bring me immense joy and purpose, as I believe in nurturing young minds and sowing seeds of curiosity that will one day transform the world.
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Arvind Gupta is a renowned Indian toy inventor, author, translator, and scientist. He was awarded “Padma Shri” by the President of India. This prestigious recognition is a testament to his exceptional contributions to the fields of innovation and [email protected]
https://arvindguptatoys.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arvind_Gupta
