THIS is in response to the article ‘An epitaph for Madhubala’ (June 20) by Jawed Naqvi. What comes to my dismay are the following remarks which indeed are disturbing:

“India’s most popular screen goddess Madhubala was buried in 1969 after a tragedy-filled life. The legendary leftist poet Sahir Ludhianvi, evergreen music composer Naushad and the magical singer Mohammad Rafi were all buried at the Juhu Muslim Cemetery.

Three or, perhaps, four years ago, their bodies were exhumed and shifted to goodness knows where. The graves were levelled and the plaques thrown away. The fans were simply stunned with disbelief.

In interviews, which I recently read on the web, representatives of the Muslim community that looks after the graveyard proclaimed it un-Islamic for people to build tombs for the dead. It sounded so much like Salafist extremists of yore.

The Indian film industry has a strong base and has also representation in parliament. How they kept silent on the levelling of graves of their compatriots/icons is just beyond comprehension.

Looking back at yesteryears, I find it hard to believe that the most celebrated people could wane off from people’s minds owing to changing times and interests.

I recall here my primary-school days when during 1963 at Jacobabad, I, along with my maternal grandfather, had gone to watch ‘Dulari’, with Madhubala as the lead star.

It was a 1949 film which still fetched huge crowds. I remember we had got tickets after great efforts.

What was noticeable then was that despite a massive rush, there was no blackmarketing of tickets.

Maybe it was due to better functioning of administration in those days.

Being of a tender age, I was unable to understand the twists and turns of the story which my grandfather explained, and simultaneously he pacified other viewers who raised objections on being disturbed.

Partition did not affect filmgoers, as Muslim and Hindu film stars were equally popular among the masses.

An old acquaintance, a fan of classic films, no more in this world, once told me that he had watched Raj Kapoor’s ‘Barsaat’ 17 times when it was screened at Hyderabad (Sindh).

If the resting place of Madhubala, born Mumtaz Jahan Dehlavi (1933-1969), can be destroyed, I am afraid of the times when under Salafists’ pressure the Indian government might even level the Taj Mahal.

SIKANDAR ALI SHAHKandiaro