Farooq Qaiser

Farooq Qaiser was a Pakistani artist, puppeteer, and newspaper columnist who became a household name through his work on television. He gained widespread fame as the creator of iconic puppet characters like Uncle Sargam and Masi Museebtay. Throughout his life, he worked as a script writer, voice actor, and cartoonist.

Early life and education

Farooq Qaiser was born on 31 October 1945 in Sialkot, Punjab. He spent his early childhood years in Peshawar and Kohat within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. After completing his initial schooling, he moved to Lahore to pursue higher studies. In 1970, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts from the National College of Arts (NCA).

He later traveled abroad to expand his technical expertise. In 1976, Qaiser received a master's degree in Graphic Arts from Bucharest, Romania, where he also underwent training for puppetry. He eventually returned to academic pursuits in the United States. In 1999, he earned a master's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Southern California School for Communication and Journalism.

Career

Qaiser began his professional journey in the early 1970s after he finished his studies at the National College of Arts. He produced a short documentary in the English language to start his career. In 1971, his teacher Salima Hashmi recruited him for the children's television puppet show Akkar Bakkar. During this project, he collaborated with Shoaib Hashmi, Muneeza Hashmi and Faiz Ahmad Faiz on various scripts and puppets. The program aimed to serve as a Pakistani version of the American educational show Sesame Street.

His first task involved creating a local version of Big Bird. He eventually developed many other characters for the production. In 1976, Qaiser wrote and directed his own puppet show titled Kaliyan (Flower Buds) for Pakistan Television (PTV). This show introduced fictional characters such as Haiga, Masi Museebte and Uncle Sargam. He also provided the voice for Uncle Sargam, a character he modeled after his Romanian teacher, Molnar.

The character of Uncle Sargam became extremely popular across Pakistan. Qaiser noted that the puppet reflected the insecurities and fears of the middle class. He used the character to express sentiments that common citizens often felt unable to voice. His television portfolio expanded to include other shows like Putli Tamasha, Sargam Time and Daak Time. He also produced Siyasi Kaliyan in 1995 and Sargam for Dawn News in 2010.

Beyond television, Qaiser was a prolific contributor to print media. He worked as a cartoonist for the Lahore-based Urdu daily newspaper Daily Nai Baat. He also served as a columnist for the same publication under the pen name Meethay Karelay. His literary works include books such as Hor Puchho, Kaalam Galoch and Meray Piyaray Allah Mian.

Qaiser held several institutional roles during his lifetime. He taught at the Fatima Jinnah Women University in Rawalpindi for a period of time. In 2015, he served on the board of governors at the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) in Islamabad. Additionally, he spent two years in India as a member of UNESCO to provide educational services.

Personal life

Farooq Qaiser was married and had one son. He passed away on 14 May 2021 in Islamabad following a heart attack. His 78th birthday was recognized by Google through a special Google Doodle.

Awards and recognition

Qaiser received several prestigious honors for his contributions to the arts. The President of Pakistan awarded him the Pride of Performance in 1993. In 1998, he earned the Writer Special Award at the 9th PTV Awards. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Pakistan Television in 2010.

His work with children earned him international attention. UNICEF presented him with the Master Puppeteer award in 1997 for performing 2500 live shows around Pakistan. On March 23, 2021, the President of Pakistan awarded him the Sitara-e-Imtiaz. This honor recognized his unmatched performance and his work within the Pakistani entertainment industry for over 4 decades.