Elegantly dressed in soft, earthy colors, Nigar Nazar wears her culture at sleeve’s length.
Wrapped in a tiger-print shawl, the Pakistani native quietly speaks of her heritage and, ultimately, what she hopes she has contributed to it.
Nazar, one of the University’s eight Fulbright scholars and host of a free workshop at the UO Bookstore from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, is somewhat of a celebrity in her homeland. A woman cartoonist in a country where only political artists exist, Nazar’s efforts are numerous.
Her comic strip, “Gogi,” instantly took off after its debut in Pakistan in 1970. In years since, “Gogi” has found its way into countries across the globe.
But strangely enough, it almost never got started.

In the late 1960s, a Pakistani teacher at Viqar-Un-Nisa School was lecturing to a full class. Seated somewhere in the masses was Nazar, daydreaming as she did most days.
“I was just drawing all the time, doodling in the margins of my books,” Nazar said. “And then I just, one day, left my science class and walked into the fine arts department. Just like that. … I never looked back.”
Without prominent cartoonists to learn from, Nazar said she had to teach herself everything. Using her surroundings to channel ideas, Nazar’s comic was laughable more than anything else.
“In the beginning, it was just plain innocent humor — it was nothing deeper than that,” she said.
But in the meantime, Pakistani newspapers began filling up with American syndicated comics. Suddenly, Nazar realized she needed to give her people something more.
“I wanted to do something that was based on our culture, on our people, on our problems,” she said.
Having lived in more than 10 countries, Nazar, 50, has an undying need to give back to her community. Call it culture, faith or religion — Nazar’s not really sure what brings out her dedication.
When she was living in Mozambique, a woman — Nelson Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel — asked Nazar, “Why are you doing this?”
“This” referred to her efforts at a nearby school. The building, devoid of working toilets and so crowded that classes were held during five different shifts, needed serious work. So Nazar rounded up support in the community, and with some help, saw to it that changes were made.
Why was she doing this?
“To feel useful,” she said.
Nazar’s oldest child, Nazish Abbas, has her mother’s traits.
Not only is the 27-year-old interested in media production, but she’s also learned the value of helping others.
“What she really taught us, more than anything else, is to give back,” Abbas said of her mother.
Knowing that their mother — with all her philanthropic efforts — is best known for “Gogi,” Nazar’s children followed suit. Recently, Abbas and her brother gave the world more “Gogi.” Nazar’s son helped transform “Gogi” into animation, and Abbas produced the television program.
“We’re all on the same wavelength, we’re all cracking up on the same jokes,” Abbas said. “So we thought it was a good idea to work together.”
Since Nazar’s arrival to the University in April, she has lent her artwork to a number of publications.
“I think to have somebody like Nigar — not a standard academic researcher — it’s a boom for us,” said Todd Lundgren, assistant to the associate vice president of international programs.
Nazar, on the other hand, likes to think of the experience as a “professional upgrade.”
Tonight, Nazar hopes to enlighten others during her two-hour workshop. More than anything, she plans to explain her comic in order to help people find their way.
“It’s my thoughts,” Nazar said of her cartoon. “She’s like my mouthpiece, Gogi.”
Because for Nazar, culture finds its way from tongue to sleeve.