We examine the reason why Khar Gymkhana decided to revoke Jemimah’s membership with her father allegedly using the premises for religious conversions
Khar Gymkhana, one of Mumbai’s oldest and most prestigious clubs, has revoked the membership of Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues due to allegations concerning her father’s use of the club premises for religious activities. Club officials revealed that this decision followed objections raised by members, accusing Jemimah’s father, Ivan Rodrigues, of holding religious events and attempting conversions within the club. Jemimah was the first woman cricketer to receiver the club’s honorary membership back in 2023
Who is Ivan Rodrigues father of cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues who allegedly used her Khar Gymkhana membership for religious conversions
Amidst Cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues’s father’s forced conversion saga and her termination from Khar Gymkhana , old video of Jemimah surfaces
Jemimah can be seen acting possessed in a conversion program pic.twitter.com/glasrf4Ewl
— Janta Journal (@JantaJournal) October 22, 2024
Who is Jemimah?
Jemimah Rodrigues , born on 5 September 2000 into a Christian family, is an Indian cricketer who has made a significant mark as an all-rounder for the India women’s national cricket team. Hailing from Bhandup, Mumbai, Jemimah grew up alongside her two brothers, Enoch and Eli. She began playing season cricket at the tender age of four.
Seeking better opportunities for their children, her family relocated to Bandra West, where her father, Ivan Rodrigues, worked as a junior coach at her school. It was in this environment that Jemimah honed her skills, often bowling to her brothers.
How Ivan Rodrigues broke the rules of Khar Gymkhana?
In 2023, the club had extended an honorary three-year membership to Jemimah, then 24, recognizing her achievements as a cricketer and granting her access to its facilities. However, the club later took a firm stance after the religious aspect of her father’s activities came to light. Her father who is also a cricket coach is currently in Dubai.
Committee member Shiv Malhotra expressed great pride in Jemimah’s contributions to the country, while revealing that her father had organized nearly 35 gatherings in a hall that had been reserved under her name for over a year. He explained that the vice president and other committee members had been unaware of these activities, which eventually resulted in the collection of over three lakh rupees as compensation.
Both Jemimah and her father were involved with Bro Manuel Ministries. This video of her is from 2015, when she was playing at junior level. Ivan Rodrigues is still a part time coach and full time evangelist 🙄 pic.twitter.com/4sIK17yveG
— v!§hπu ® (@vrraj15) October 22, 2024
“We came to know that Jemimah Rodrigues’s father was attached to an organisation called Brother Manuel Ministries. They booked the presidential hall for almost a year and a half and held 35 events. We all know what was happening there,” said Khar Gymkhana managing committee member Shiv Malhotra.
Club officials and committee members stated that the decision to revoke her membership came after some members raised objections regarding her father, Ivan, using the club premises to hold religious events and attempting to convert people to Christianity.
Devnani confirmed that Jemimah’s honorary membership was revoked after a resolution was passed by the club’s members during a general meeting on October 20, 2024. The events held at the club were said to have involved dancing, expensive sound equipment, and large screens, which had been brought to the venue on several occasions. Rule 4A of Khar Gymkhana’s constitution, however, explicitly prohibits religious activities on the premises.
Khar Gymkhana president Vivek Devnani said that the allegations against Jemimah’s father were made with political motives in the lead-up to its managing committee and trustee elections in October.
“In case you are not aware, Khar Gymkhana is scheduled to have its managing committee and trustee elections later this month. Considering this fact, it should be evident that these allegations are being made with political motives. No evidence whatsoever has been offered in connection with any alleged wrongdoings. The facilities of Khar Gymkhana, including the banquet halls, are available to its members for personal events/functions in accordance with our rules and regulations- while banquet hall-related bookings are handled by our administrative office, as far as I am aware, no discounts or preferential/special treatment are given to any member,” Vivek said.