Meet Kamalakar Potdar: The “Potdar Kaka” Turning Trash Into Toys and Smiles

From Engineer to “Potdar Kaka”

In a world chasing speed, success and constant upgrades, Kamalakar Potdar chose a different path. After retiring from TELCO (now Tata Motors) in Pune in 2003, he didn’t slow down. Instead, he returned to something he had loved since childhood, making toys. But not just any toys. He began creating them from things most people throw away. Bottle caps, straws, old containers, wires, broken brushes, what looks like trash to many becomes something playful and meaningful in his hands. Today, he is fondly known as “Potdar Kaka”, a name given not by branding but by children.

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Toys From Trash, Joy From Simplicity

Walk into his home and you won’t see expensive materials or fancy tools. Instead, you’ll find:

• miniature windmills made from plastic
• insects crafted from paper and groundnut shells
• dolls and footwear built using scrap
• moving models of aeroplanes, cars and helicopters

His creations are simple, but they carry something deeper, curiosity.

Each piece reflects an idea: that learning doesn’t always need textbooks, and creativity doesn’t need a budget.

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A Childhood Hobby That Became Identity

What makes his story stand out is timing.

Most people treat retirement as an end. For him, it became a beginning.

The hobby he carried quietly through life became his full-time passion. He didn’t just create for himself, he shared.

Whenever he meets children, whether at events like Pune’s Happy Street or school exhibitions, he gifts these handmade toys. No cost, no conditions.

Just a smile in return.

Also read: 10+ Hours of Art for 1K Views: The Reality of Creator Artisan Laxmi

When “Shut Up” Became a Compliment

In one of his viral moments, Potdar Kaka shared a funny incident. While showing his toys to the kids, they kept saying, “Shut up.”

At first, he was confused. Later, he realised, it was their way of saying “wow.”

That small moment captures something important.

He connects across generations, even when language changes.

Learning, Not Just Playing

His work goes beyond entertainment.

He has showcased his creations in multiple schools and exhibitions, where children don’t just watch, they learn how to make things themselves.

His interaction with Arvind Gupta at IUCAA’s Muktangan Vignan Shodhika played a key role in this journey. Gupta recognised his work and encouraged him to pursue it more seriously, even featuring it in educational platforms.

Since then, Potdar Kaka has continued spreading a simple idea: learning by doing.

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Creativity With a Purpose

His philosophy is not complicated. Stay busy, creative and useful.

At an age where many feel disconnected or unproductive, he chose to build, teach and engage. His work quietly challenges the idea that creativity has an expiry date.

He proves that:

• Age does not limit imagination
• Retirement does not mean stopping
• And small ideas can create a big impact

Why His Story Matters Today

For Gen Z and kids growing up in a digital-first world, his journey feels almost opposite and that’s exactly why it matters.

He reminds us:

• not everything has to be bought
• not everything needs a screen
• and not everything needs to go viral to matter

But sometimes, it still does.

One of his reels even crossed 1 crore views, showing that authenticity can travel just as far as trends.

The Child We Forgot

There is a line that fits his story perfectly.

We all have a child within us. We just get too busy and bury it.

Potdar Kaka didn’t.

And now, through every toy he makes, he brings that child back, not just for himself, but for everyone around him.