Meet Mr. Kamalakar Potdar, a remarkable toy artist who proves that age is truly just a number. At 79 years, he continues to create magic with his hands — transforming discarded items and household scraps into beautiful, playful toys. Yes, you heard that right! He makes toys entirely from trash, breathing new life into what most people throw away.
By education, Mr. Potdar is a mechanical engineer. After completing his studies, he began his career with Tata Motors, where his technical knowledge and problem-solving skills found a strong foundation. But even after decades in engineering, his creative spark never faded. Behind the precision of machines, there always lived a man who loved imagination, color, and childlike wonder.
His passion for toy-making began in childhood and never left him. Today, that same curiosity and excitement continue to drive him. Whenever he gets the chance, Potdar Kaka—as everyone lovingly calls him—shares his creations with children in his community. He delights in watching their eyes light up as they play with his handmade toys. For him, the pure joy on their faces is the greatest reward.
Each of his toys is made from scratch, using simple materials like straws, paper, cardboard, bottle caps, or anything lying around the house. From walking paper toys and blooming flowers to a running mouse made of recycled parts, his collection is as diverse as it is delightful. His home is a mini wonderland — every corner filled with color, movement, and creativity.
What truly sets Potdar Kaka apart is his purpose. He doesn’t make toys to sell or earn money. He creates them purely out of love — for the process, for the art, and for the joy it brings to others. His work is a beautiful reminder that not everything in life needs to have a profit or a purpose. Sometimes, doing something simply because it makes you happy is the most meaningful reason of all.
Through his creativity, Mr. Potdar inspires everyone around him to look at the world differently — to see potential in waste, to rediscover the joy of creating, and to understand that passion has no age limit.