Life after retirement is another important point in one’s life. It is a period wherein one is actually free from all responsibilities and duties, but is a also a stage when insecurity and a feeling of being unproductive creeps in. In this nuclear and fast paced world, we often think whether we are an obstacle or trouble to the people around. Some get lost in the whirlpool of thoughts that cloud them but there are some who feel renewed, get a feeling of real independence and enjoy life on one’s terms. One such person emitting this positive spark and not being bogged down by doubts and questions is Mr Potdar.
An engineer and consultant by profession Kamlakar Vasantrao Potdar bade goodbye and sought retirement from TELCO, Pune in 2003 and thus found time to convert his hobby of bringing into such life forms from items found at home since his childhood days into his full time passion. Since the beginning he would like to create toys, creatures and interesting items and would want to share his creations with people around him, and just watch the way it would light up many a faces.
His objects and works of art have been showcased in many a schools and exhibitions and has been received with a lot of awe and praise for his creativity. A chance encounter with Mr Arvind Gupta at the Muktangan Vignan Shodhika at IUCAA, made him pursue this art seriously, especially after Mr Gupta praised him and even showcased his works in his websites and educational tools.
Entering Mr Potdar’s home, one cannot miss the articles made out of cut plastic bottles, miniature wind mills, dancing men and women made of wires and discarded brushes, pencil drawings and paintings with such fine detail. The walls have items made of straws, thermocol, insects made of paper and groundnut shells. Also his paper flowers, dolls, footwear, insects made from telephone wires and erasers, all form part of his ever expanding creations. His art work reflects his simplicity and eye for using items easily discarded and available in our surroundings.
His motto is simple: to create new items, bringing cheer and happiness to people and being busy using his time in a fruitful manner. He has often been praised, which only gives him reinforcement to make newer and better things and also teach kids how to do the same. He is known to the children in the building as “Potdar kaka” who always entertains them by making new models of aeroplanes, helicopters, cars and trucks. He not only creates but also spreads cheer and happiness by gifting his new creations to whomsoever comes to his home. He also shares with great passion his endeavour to bring in an element among children to create and innovate and thereby learn new things as they grow up.
We all somewhere have a child hidden within us and somewhere down the years have become so busy that we have buried that child. But there are some like our Potdar uncle who, with their child like enthusiasm and creativity, want to spread a thousand smiles along the way.