| Uncle Sargam | |
| Series: | Kaliyan, Sargam Time, Daak Time, Siyasi Kaliyan, Sargam Back Home |
| First: | 1976 |
| Creator: | Farooq Qaiser |
| Voice: | Farooq Qaiser |
| Nickname: | Sargam |
| Gender: | Male |
| Religion: | Muslim |
| Nationality: | Pakistani |
Uncle Sargam (ur|انکل سرگم) is a puppet character that first appeared in the Pakistani children's television show Kaliyan, aired on PTV in 1976.[1] Uncle Sargam was created and voiced by the award-winning puppeteer and television director Farooq Qaiser. Uncle Sargam and Maasi Museebtay are regarded as Pakistan's legendary puppet duo.[2]
The satirical Uncle Sargam was the most vocal critic on state television under General Zia-ul-Haq's dictatorship in the 1980s.[3] Later appearances were in the TV show Daak Time in 1993. The character reappeared and hosted a television talk show Syasi Kaliyan at Dawn News in 2010.
The character also appeared in a Pakistan National Council of the Arts-organised show in Islamabad. Uncle Sargam later appeared in a charity show function organised by the NGO Mashal at the National Library of Pakistan in Islamabad in July 2013.[4] In March 2014, the Oxford University Press held an Uncle Sargam puppet show to help children differentiate between original and pirated books at Peshawar’s Archives Library.[5]
In 2018, a diorama of Uncle Sargam was inaugurated at Lok Virsa Museum in Islamabad as a tribute to both the character and Farooq Qaiser.[6] [7]
Google Pakistan paid tribute to the character as Uncle Sargam's Doodle on 1st November 2023.[8]