Nigar Nazar is the first woman cartoonist of Pakisan and perhaps the entire Muslim world. Her character, Gogi, is an urban Pakistani woman struggling with her frailties in the context of gender-discriminate social norms.

'Biography' She started her career in 1967, when she switched out of a pre-med degree to study fine arts. As a result, she was drawing comics when no teachers or coursework in this artistic format were available. "When I wanted to learn cartooning in the 1970s, no one in Pakistan taught this art," she recalls. She approached the principal of the arts council Ali Imam in Karachi, who gave her six books on how to draw cartoons. Soon she was doodling as fast as her fingers could move. Impressed, the principal suggested she draw a cartoon every day. "So I drew cartoons daily. But what I really wanted was to create a female cartoon figure," she says. "It was important for me to infuse a woman's voice into the cartoon world, which was male-dominated globally." She has never looked back from that experience and Gogi made her debut in 1970 in Karachi's Institute of Arts and Crafts annual magazine.

Her Gogi comic strips have been published in the Morning News, Dawn, The Mirror, and the Daily News. Since then, 'Gogi' featured in all the countries where Nigar's husband's diplomatic career led them. Travelling with her diplomat husband, Nazar volunteered with UNICEF, Oxfam and UNESCO. Her cartoons were published in Turkey, Libya and other parts of Africa. Whenever she returned to Pakistan, Gogi reappeared, speaking out on new issues such as arranged marriage and domestic violence. In the process, she became a symbol of the modern Muslim woman and the challenges she faces.

Nearly 40 years later, Nazar calls Islamabad home, but Gogi has infiltrated the country, extending far beyond the pages of the national Daily Jang: "My work ... it came from the newspaper and then it came into the community, on public buses. And from public buses, it went into hospitals. From hospitals, it went into books. And from books it went to comic books. From comic books, I teach programs now." Currently, she is the CEO of Gogi Studios (Pvt) Ltd. She is also an International Art Instructor. She has been drawing cartoons professionally since 1971. Her main character, Gogi, has been a widely popular character in the form of comic strips for newspapers and publications both in her home country, Pakistan as well as other countries such as, the United Kingdom, Australia, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Turkey, Mozambique. She is one of the founding members of the Asian Youth Association for Animators and Cartoonists (AYAAC) with headquarters in Guiyang, China. She has been an offical speaker and jury member of numerous art and cartoon competitions, both international and national such as the APACA (AYAAC), Aydin Dogan Vakfi (Turkey), Himal Cartoon Conference (Nepal), Cartoonists Congress (Malaysia/Singapore), Oxfam Congress for Women Issues (Sri Lanka). She has conducted many workshops and outreach programs to priviliged and under priviliged students, in Pakistan. She has also been invited as a Fulbright visiting specialist to the United States to give lectures and live cartoon demonstrations. After years of producing entertaining cartoons reflecting society, Nigar Nazar set up the Gogi Studios. Gogi Studios makes a difference by working on projects that actively address social issues. In her last project, Nigar Nazar completed five ”Awareness Comic Books” in English, Urdu and Pashto languages. 3 books of her compiled cartoons have been published as well as several calendars, brochures, diaries and posters. In collaboration with renowned NGO’s, 15 public transport buses were wrapped from 2001 to 2003 with Gogi cartoons to convey social messages. She has produced several books for children on health and hygiene, environment, disaster management, first aid and safety published and distributed by the Government of Pakistan. Nigar studied as a Fulbright scholar at the Art Department of The University of Oregon . She also went as a UNICEF candidate to do a six week training in cel animation at the subsidiary of Hanna Barbera Studios in Manila, Philippines. She did her Graduate (Fine Arts) Punjab University, Lahore. In addition she took a Computer Animation course, Air- brush painting course and Life Drawing classes from (ANU) Australia National University, Australia. Life drawing classes from Alfred Deakin School (evening classes) Curtin, Canberra and Exclusive training on product’s Import and Export organized by USAID Mariate Islamabad.

GOGI

Gogi to express her views about diverse subjects ranging from male chauvinism to suicide bombers. Nazar has chosen Gogi to be her main character as a long-lashed, short-coiffed, polka dot-wearing, pixie-faced modern Pakistani Muslim woman. Nazar’s work on the other hand shows womanly humour in a male-dominated society where she seeks social freedom, Pakistan her country is not suffering occupation, Pakistan suffers other kinds of problems like being a male dominant society, where illiteracy is infesting in its communities and where there are some radicalization of the youngsters is going on Nigar whose father worked in the Foreign Service when she was young, spent several years in America. Her Cartoon character Gogi began as a daily comic strip in a Pakistan newspaper called The Sun in 1970 when Nazar was 22. She also animated a cartoon for Karachi Television about that time. Later she was freelanced for The Herald monthly before publishing books of Gogi cartoons; her first published book was on the market in 1975. Nigar’s character of Gogi reflects gentle humour. But some might misinterpret her sense of humour especially when she makes a point of criticism related to her culture. She pointed out once in one of her strips that the traditional headscarf, the chaddar, actually has advantages, such as hiding one from creditors. This hint about a high section of her poor society and many who suffer the debts might be misinterpreted as criticism or disrespect of a Muslim Pakistani traditional costume that equals wearing the hijab in other Muslim socities. Her created character Gogi and friend once remarked as well on the reaction to male births and female births since her Pakistani society prefers have a baby boy as is the case in many socities. ‘When a son is born, the father passes out cigars. When a daughter is born, a father simply passes out’ she commented. “That was my first meaningful cartoon,” Nigar said. Newspaper editors in Pakistan are not always receptive to Gogi as a mouthpiece for modern urban women, she said.

With the high illiteracy rates in Pakistan, Nazar saw that cartoons are a good way to get messages across.” Through Gogi, Nazar has tackled topics such as AIDs, arranged marriages, domestic violence, government corruption and sectarian strife, and even health and hygiene illustrations that she was assigned to do by UNICEF. She’s written and drawn children’s storybooks on the environment as well, such as “The Garbage Monster.” She’s painted hospital murals and illustrated comic books to help children avoid recruitment as suicide bombers.

Awards and Honours • Shield of distinction by USAID for the uniqueness of her products in vaxnet exhibition may 31st 2010 • Mrs Nigar was featured in calendar of Wateen Telecom Pakistan as icon of Pakistan in 2010 • Received Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah Award from the government of Pakistan for her contribution in the field of art • Awarded the UNESCO BOORUKER Award for the voluntary work rendered for the Orphanage in Bishkek in 1997 • Won the first Prize for the Red Cross Poster Competition on "Nine Billion world Population “ in 1996

Publications January 2010, produced 5 comic books on skills of life girls education, corruption, anti-recruitment, women’s right, sectarian violence. Today, they are being translated in English and Pashto as well. • collection of best comic strips of Mrs. Nigar Nazar “Going Gogi” published in 2009, later on, it was translated in Urdu as well. • Prepared and illustrated 2 books on disaster management in 2006 (a JICA project) • Designed and authored a baby record book under publication with ferozsons in 2006 • Prepared training modules for HIV Aids with a board game for UNISEF 2005 • Prepared educational training modules of SMC for ESRA • Ministry of Environment published the book written and illustrated by Nigar along with an Environmental Board game for children “Koorey ka Jin” in 2005 • Designed a Calendar and illustrated 3 training modules for Devolution Support program under Asian Development Bank • Illustrated the second book, with cartoons for The Career Center of The University of Oregon called “The Job Search and Interview “ Second book of cartoons: “Gogi on the Go” published by Pak-American publishers, Pakistan in 1982 • First book of Gogi cartoons published “Glad to meethcha Gogi” by Adam Publishers in Malta in 1975.

Lectures, Talks and Media appearances

May 29th to May 31st, Participated in vaxnet exhibition organized by USAID, and was awarded shield of distinction for uniqueness of her products by the authorities. January 2010:Completed the five comic books on skills of life : Girl’s Education,Anti Corruption,Recruitment.Women’s rights and Sectarian Violence.To date they are being translated into Pashto language November 2009:Participated in the advisory committee for children’s picture books and graphic novels at The National Book Foundation November 2009:Invited by The National Book Foundation and GTZ to participate in the Karachi International Book Fair and conducted a two day workshop in Cartooning in the Main Hall of the Expo Center. October 2009:Exhibition of Gogi Cartoons at The Fine Arts Center in Colorado Springs ;also Book signing for the Bookstore of Colorado College. September 2009:Fulbright Fellowship under the program,”Visiting Specialist-Direct access to Islam” for six weeks at Colorado College ,Colorado Springs.Lectures and live cartoon demonstrations at all levels of community starting from the chapel to The AirForce Academy.

September 2009:A one day workshop in Cartooning for the Swat Girls retreat organised by NGO Shaj-re-Ilm.It was to give the students trauma conselling after their schools were blown up by militants.

August 2009:Jury for an International Comic Art Competition organised byAYAAC(Asian Youth Association for Animators and Cartoonists) in Guiyong,China. Presentation “Cartoons as a means of social change and Activism” on The Inaugural Day.

July 2009:One week workshop in Cartooning at Lahore Gymkhana

July 2009:”Impact of Creativity in Communication”A workshop devised for The Higher Education Commission.Thirty faculty members from all over Pakistan attended.

June 2009 :Discussion on Earth Day for Pakistan Television morning show with Director General ,Ministry of Environment.

June 2009:”Celebrating womanhood with humour and cartoons”A presentation at Pearl Continental for International Womens Club ,Lahore

June 2009:Outreach program on Environment for two Government/CARE schools in Lahore

May 2009:”Say No to Drugs “ Art contest at Iqra University,Islamabad.Jury and comments .

March 2009 :Jury for Mother’s day card Contest organised by KFC for Islamabad region and Rawalpindi Region.

August 2008: Conducted a workshop for children from disadvantaged communities on Cartooning. The concept was to teach how to create a mascot for a campaign on Corporal Punishment called “Learn without fear” Hosts were PLAN an International NGO.

July 2008:Gave a workshop in Cartooning to the students of Visual Art Department at The Karachi University.

April 2008: Decorated the PIMS Emergency ward for Children with 21 murals

March 2008 :Interview on DAWN News Channel “Fabricate “ program regarding the book on Cultural Tourism

March 2008: Interview on Samaa TV on the morning show “Salam Pakistan”

February 2008: Social Awareness Program at The City School for 160 students

November 2007:Book Launch at Streetsville Gallery,Toronto ,Canada

November 2007 :Book Launch and Presentation at The Noor Centre ,Toronto .Canada

November 2007:TV Talk show for CTV Toronto.

November 2007 :TV talk show for “Sursaager” Program

October 2007:Lecture on Community Art to The final Year students of Art Department at The York University

September 2007: Prepared and delivered a program of Social Awareness through Cartoons to the following schools: September 2007 :Roots School August 2007: The City School .one session for the Primary section Session two for the O-level and A-level students July 2007 :Beaconhouse Main Campus H-8 ,A levels Boys section July 2007 : 10 day Cartooning workshop at Lok Virsa February 2007 Cartooning seminar at The Bahria University.Topic:Creativity through Animation

May 2007-Decorated the Children Pschyciatric Ward at The Rawalpindi General Hospital with Murals and hanging Baby animal mobile Presentations for The Asian Study Group .”Panoramic view of a cartoonist’s work”

Interview given to Voice of America,aired on GEO News on May 17 and 18,2007

July 2006 Prepared and illustrated 2 books for children on Disaster Management- A JICA project for the earthquake areas.

April,May ,June 2006:Trained graduates in animation .Nine animation clips have been made on social and civic responsibilities of us as Pakistanis .To be aired on Pakistan Television from December 3,2006

March 2006: Designed and authored a Baby Record Book under publication with Ferozsons

February 2006: Invited to appear on four morning transmissions with PTV 1 ,ATV,PTV 2 and Hum TV ( ‘interview with A woman of substance’ personality of today etc )

2005;Received ‘Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah Award’ from the Govt of Pakistan for contribution in the field of Art

2005: Prepared training modules for HIV Aids with a board game for UNICEF

2005 :Prepared educational training module of SMC for ESRA .

2005: Guest cartoonist for drawing live cartoons on Environment at The Environment and Gender Conference organised by Ministry of Environment at Margalla Motel, Islamabad.

2005 : Ministry of Environment published the book “Koorey ka Jin” (The Garbage Monster) written and illustrated by Nigar along with an Environmental Board game for children.

2005: Guest Speaker at Shifa International Dinner

2005 : Guest Speaker at all Pakistan Childrens Meet in Murree organised by Adventure Foundation

2005 : Designed a Calendar and illustrated 3 training modules for Devolution Support program under Asian Development Bank

2005 :Prepared a large backstage banner for Women Councillors Conference and a diary for The Women’s Wing of Pakistan Muslim League

2005: Prepared a wall calendar for ADMORE Oil and Gas Company

2004:Decorated the District (Public )Hospital,Rawalpindi with Gogi cartoons carrying health messages .This is the first phase.

2004:Illustrated the second book, with cartoons for The Career Center of The University of Oregon. It is called “The Job Search and Interview ”

2003: Designed three new buses for the second largest city of Pakistan, Lahore .These cartoons are wrapped on the public buses and all carry community messages on subjects of Sexual harrasment, female literacy and child safety (child abuse). There are altogether eight buses in Islamabad/Rawalpindi and three in Lahore. Other themes are environment, national unity, child rights and good governance.

At present illustrating with cartoons the second book for The University of Oregon called the “Job Search”

2004: Designed and displayed a 40 ft banner for The Universal children’s Day at The Convention Centre .Also wrote a comedy skit for children that was enacted by the central cartoon character ,”Gogi “along with street children and students. This function was organised by The Ministry of Women Development and Social welfare

2002: Wrote and illustrated a book on Ecology for children. "The Garbage Monster" has been entered in the" Noma Concours " competition of ACCU, The Asia Pacific Cultural Center for UNESCO. This competetion is about excellence in children’s book illustrations.

2002: Entered a cartoon competition on Social, Enviornmental and Political themes For JAALA (Japan, Afro Asian Latin American)Exhibition. All three entries were selected and featured in the catalogue.

2001: Donated cartoons for a calendar, a fundraising effort for International Women Association of Bucharest.

2000: Designed and produced an appointment book (with a cartoon on every page title page included).

2000: Donated cartoons for a New Millennium calendar. This was a fundraiser for WAF (Women Action Forum) Islamabad chapter and the cartoons were all on women issues.

2000: Recorded a series of programs for Pakistan Television. These comprised of drawing live cartoons to illustrate a story line; forty-five editions for the Woman’s hour were screened four times a day on four different channels.

2000: Prepared king size cartoons on human rights for the Human Rights Convention in Islamabad, displayed at National Library and at present at The Ministry of Human rights. Organised and conducted a Summer children Art workshop at the Islamabad Club with a follow up of distributing the Art and crafts thus created among the children at the Policlinic of Islamabad.

1999-2000: Instructor of “Life Drawing “ course for Fine Arts students at the Fatima Jinnah Women University,Rawalpindi

1999: Designed” Meena “ posters for UNICEF and local body election posters for UNESCO

1999: Solo Exhibition of Gogi cartoons at the National Gallery. Participated in the cartoonist Convention at ‘The National Art Gallery’ and read a paper.

1998: Gogi cartoons appeared in the national daily, “ Vicherney Bishkek”and US Embassy newsletter “ Bishkek Surnai”, Kyrgzstan.

1998: Gogi cards produced in Kyrgzstan, that were designed for fund raising to aid the displaced children of a local orphanage.

1997: Awarded the UNESCO BOORUKER Award for the voluntary work rendered for the Orphanage in Bishkek

1996: Won the first Prize for the Red Cross Poster Competition on "Nine Billion world Population "

1996: Entered two poster designs for the United Nations Development Programme competition on the subject of “Generations Together.”

1995: Volunteered to make the biggest Children Hospital "PIMS", (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences) in the Rawalpindi district, child friendly. Large alphabets with cartoon illustrations were put up in the expansive Outdoor patient Hall and corridors. The launch was made on Children's day with a Puppet show and cartoon mural unveiling .

1993-1995: Nigar did freelance cartooning while in Canberra, Australia. She also designed greeting cards and participated in the Cartoonist Convention, Sydney. Organised by ‘The Black and White Artists Club’.

1994: Gave concept and illustrated a cartoon book on Health and hygiene for UNICEF called “Nanney Doctors”. It was translated, later, in all provincial languages. Posters and pencil case were designed to further reinforce the health messages and distributed all over the rural schools of Pakistan.

1988: Founded the International Charity Group in Maputo, Mozambique. Presented Groups' cheque for repair of a school building to the Minister of Education of Mozambique, Mrs.Graca Machel.

1987: Designed brochure on Aids and T.B.for Ministry of Health.

1986: Taught Tri-chem painting to African ladies in Maputo. Declared number two among top Ten Instructors in Fabric Painting in Mozambique, Africa.

1985: Interviewed on BBC TV Asian Programme as an active organiser of Asian Women’s Group.

1985: Interviewed for a half hour program on BBC Radio at Bush House, London as Pakistan’s first woman cartoonist.

1984: Prepared and made illustrations for workbooks published by Multicultural Education Dept. of Bradford, UK.

1982-1985: President of Pakistan Women Group, Bradford UK Organised national, cultural and religious functions.

1982: Painted king size portrait of the father of the nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah, for Pakistan Day celebrations in Bradford, UK (which was unveiled by Member of Parliament, Mr. Geoff Lawler)

1982: Second book of cartoons: “Gogi on the Go” published by Pak-American publishers, Pakistan.

1980: First exhibition of Gogi Cartoons at the National Art Gallery. This exhibition toured the major cities of Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Rawalpindi.

1976-Cartoon contributions to: 1) Children’s magazine “Al -Amal” Tripoli Libya 2)”The Mirror” Monthly, Karachi

1975:Contributed Gogi comic strips to the English daily Libyan newspaper, "Jamahiriyah Mail”.

1975: First book of Gogi cartoons published”Glad to meethcha Gogi” by Adam Publishers in Malta.

1971-1972: Wrote and drew live a cartoon story for Karachi Television “Phir Hua Yoon” A twenty four series weekly program that ran for six months .

1971: Participated and drew cartoons for a Pakistan Television program designed for children “Khel Khel Mein” which ran for over a year.

1971-1973 Freelance cartoonist for: 1)”The Herald”monthly 2)”Teenager” monthly, Karachi

1 9 7 0 - 1 9 7 1: Drew a daily Gogi comic strip for “The Sun” Daily.

Projects and focussed issues Mrs. Nigar Nazar has been focusing on social issues instead of political. She says “my focus is more towards developing social sense among public, I leave the political issues for the men to focus”. She focussed on following issues through her cartoons: • Women rights

• Trauma counselling of earth quake victims through puppets: Puppet Show for Trauma Counselling of Earthquake Victims, (October 2005) Using puppets from the Gogi comic strip characters, trauma counselling was given to earthquake victims in the form of an entertaining puppet show.

• Social messages on the exterior of famous bus service of Pakistan

• Environment

• Disability

• Manners

• Child safety: Gogi Ghar pilot program, (2003) A pilot program was prepared that addressed skills of life and social issues using cartoons, puppets and interaction with children. Puppet Show for Trauma Counselling of Earthquake Victims, (October 2005) Using puppets from the Gogi comic strip characters, trauma counselling was given to earthquake victims in the form of an entertaining puppet show. Cartoon Murals in DHQ, CGH and PIMS Hospitals on Health Messages, (April 2008) The PIMS Emergency ward for Children was decorated with 21 murals. Comic books on issues, (February 2005 - September 2009) Comicbook on disaster management for JICA (Japan). Comicbook on Health and Hygiene for UNICEF. 5 Awareness comicbooks “Discouraging children from dropping out of school”, “Girls’ rights”, “Tolerance of diversity in communities”, “Be wary of strangers”and “Corruption”. Outreach Programs and lectures, (January 2008 - December 2009) Conducted outreach programs in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore on the subjects of environment. Showed cartoon animated spots, demonstrated with live drawings of cartoons, interacted with children and distributed Gogi books and stationery in Gogi school bags for free to the attendees. Workshops, (2008 – 2010) Conducted numerous cartooning workshops for children of all levels of society, but especially from disadvantaged communities with the International NGO’, PLAN, HEC (Higher Education Commission), National Government/CARE and Shaj-re-Ilm. Workshops were also organized with private organizations for children such as KFC.

• Water conservation

• Climatic change.

External Links http://www.gogicomics.com/nazar.html http://www.newslinemagazine.com/2010/06/interview-nigar-nazar-ceo-gogi-studios/ http://jang.com.pk/thenews/may2008-weekly/tapest-01-05-2008/index.html http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=228526 http://blog.dawn.com/2010/04/12/a-reason-to-smile/ http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/local/islamabad