Back In October 2024, the Khar Gymkhana in Mumbai, one of the city’s finest clubs, withdrew the honorary three-year membership of Jemimah Rodrigues, the superstar of Indian women’s cricket.
The decision was marred in controversy due to allegations that Jemimah’s father, Ivan Rodrigues, had abused the membership privileges to host large religious gatherings, purportedly for ‘conversion’ activities, on the club premises, thus violating the club’s own bylaws.
The heart of the matter is the alleged abuse of privilege extended to the cricketer of note. Jemimah, who received honorary membership in 2023 as the first female cricketer, was not directly implicated.
However, it was alleged by the club officials that her father, Ivan Rodrigues, used her membership to reserve the presidential hall for around 35 events in a span of one and a half years and usually at discounted rates.
These events were apparently hosted by ‘Brother Manuel Ministries’, as described by some of the older members of the club, who contend that the brigade breached the club’s Rule 4A, which, among other things, forbids holding religious services on the property of the club.
Members who attended these events described them as spiritual gatherings filled with music, dancing, and speeches, raising additional concerns about possible conversion attempts.
This issue came to a boiling point at the club’s AGM held on 20 October 2024, where after hot debates and pressure build up among the members, a resolution to immediately cancel Jemimah Rodrigues’s honorary membership was moved and adopted unanimously.
Some leaders at the club, however, dismissed the conversion allegations and alleged that the controversy was politically motivated as elections approach. Nevertheless, the general body saw fit to take action based on the already established breach of rules and misuse of club facilities.
The club further claimed to have collected financial dues worth over Rs 3.5 lakhs for the many events. Later, Jemimah’s father denied the conversion allegations and remarked that prayer meetings were simply held, knowing well by some office bearers only to cease immediately upon request.
This unfortunate incident brings into sharp focus that difficult intersection wherein the actions of a family member can impinge on the professional and personal associations of a leading athlete.
Her match-winning innings, filled with 14 fours and 3 sixes, not only carried India into the World Cup final but became a resounding voice against many controversies surrounding her family.
The post Remember When Khar Gymkhana Drops Jemimah Rodrigues’ Honorary Membership Amid Father’s Religious Conversion Controversy, Shockwaves In Mumbai! appeared first on NewsX.
