Qamar Azad Hashmi remembered

People from different walks of life today paid tribute to Qamar Azad Hashmi, a renowned social worker and mother of playwright Safdar Hashmi. Known as 'Ammi', 87-year-old Hashmi had breathed her last on February 1. Social activists, thespians and artistes assembled at a gathering here to pay tribute to Hashmi. "She was most courageous and a symbol of narration. Ammi had ability to attract people towards movements and was a great educationist," CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said. Hashmi's daughter and social activist Shabnam Hashmi said, "Ammi was inspiration for not only me but many others. Her message for us was to be fearless and fight against injustice." Activist Harsh Mandar and theatre artist M K Raina were also among those who were present at the gathering. Qamar Hashmi was also associated with socio-cultural organisation 'Sahmat'. Her son Safdar Hashmi was murdered in broad daylight here in 1989 when he was performing street-play 'Halla Bol'.