Today is the 78th birthday of the late Pakistani puppeteer, artist and writer Farooq Qaiser, who was popularly known for his iconic character Uncle Sargam. Google has paid tribute to the famous cartoonist by changing its doodle into an artwork of an animated poster of Uncle Sargam and his companion, Masi Museebtay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-GpUuoOVks
Biography of Farooq Qaiser:
Qaiser was born on this day in 1945 in Sialkot, Punjab. He studied Fine Art at the National College of Arts in Lahore, where he was first introduced to the world of puppetry. While there, he was invited to work on a children’s television program called Akka Bakkar (1971) as a showwriter and puppet maker. Qaiser also attended the University of Bucharest for his bachelor’s in graphic design and the University of Southern California for a master’s in mass communications.
In 1976, the puppeteer started creating his own children’s show and eventually landed a broadcasting opportunity on Pakistani Television (PTV). It wasn’t long before Kaliyan (which translates to flower bud) found its way onto family TV screens across the nation. The show brilliantly balanced humor and satire to teach valuable life lessons to its young audience. Uncle Sargam, the main character, was also charming and relatable enough that parents enjoyed watching alongside their kids.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-FMWiNN-Cg
Beyond puppetry, Qaiser had his hand in other pursuits. He worked as a columnist and cartoonist for the Daily Nai Baat, an Urdu newspaper, and taught at the Fatima Jinnah Women’s University in Rawalpindi. He also co-founded the Pakistani branch of Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA) and served as its long-time vice president.
For his contributions, Qaiser has been awarded the Presidential Pride of Performance in 1993, the title of “Master Puppeteer” from UNICEF in 1997, and the PTV Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. He played a vital role in educating and entertaining the people of Pakistan through television, and is remembered for his irreplaceable, unmatchable spirit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BHt3YQHYl0
Happy birthday, Farooq Qaiser!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTTOGjQgSww