National News

Khar Gymkhana Revokes Cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues’ Membership Over Father’s Alleged Religious Activities; Jemima’s Old ‘Possession’ Video Surfaces

October 23, 2024
The Commune

In what comes across as a strong decision, Khar Gymkhana, one of Mumbai’s oldest clubs, has revoked the membership of Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues following allegations against her father, Ivan Rodrigues, of using club premises for religious activities. The club’s managing committee acted after members raised objections to Ivan’s organization of events linked to Brother Manuel Ministries, a Christian evangelical group.

Reports indicate that Ivan Rodrigues booked the club’s banquet hall multiple times from March 2023 to November 2024, reportedly holding around 35 events aimed at religious conversion. Members expressed concern that these gatherings were an attempt to proselytize and convert “the vulnerable.” According to committee member Shiv Malhotra, the activities included elements typical of evangelical events, such as loud music and what appeared to be instances of possession. Malhotra described attending one such event where “trance music” was played, and a speaker claimed, “He is coming to save us.” He said, “As far as her membership is concerned absolutely she is the pride of the country. We wish her well and wish she brings more accolades to the country. There is no issue about that. The membership was given to her…The privilege was misused by her father using her membership and booking the presidential hall. The booking was for 1.5 years, our members were not getting the space…To misuse that privilege is an issue...”

The decision to revoke Jemimah’s three-year honorary membership was made during an annual general meeting on 20 October 2024, with club officials asserting that Rule 4A of Khar Gymkhana’s constitution strictly prohibits any religious activities on its premises. This rule aims to maintain the club’s secular ethos amid growing concerns about communal politics in the region.

In a statement, Khar Gymkhana president Vivek Devnani suggested that the allegations against Ivan Rodrigues might be politically motivated, particularly with upcoming elections for the managing committee and trustees. He emphasized that no concrete evidence had been provided to support claims of wrongdoing and urged caution regarding the “misrepresentations and falsehoods” circulating in the media.

Jemima’s Old Video Goes Viral

An old video featuring Jemimah Rodrigues, a member of the Indian women’s cricket team, has resurfaced online following the revocation of her membership at Khar Gymkhana due to her father’s alleged involvement in evangelical activities. The video, reportedly from 2015, shows a young Jemimah expressing gratitude to God while addressing an audience about her cricket performance, specifically scoring 25 runs off 37 balls. As the host approaches, she appears to act as if possessed and collapses to the ground.

The video gained attention after reports emerged that Jemimah’s father, Ivan Rodrigues, used her membership to book the gymkhana’s banquet hall for “Christian conversion meetings” organized by Brother Manuel Ministries, an evangelical organization. According to its YouTube page, the ministry conducts a Sunday one-day retreat at Khar Gymkhana twice a month.

Their Facebook page also shows an event from 2023 with the location mentioned as Khar Gymkhana. The pictures also feature Jemima.

 

Jemimah Rodrigues made history in March 2023 by becoming the first female cricketer to receive honorary membership at Khar Gymkhana. However, the recent controversy surrounding her father’s activities has overshadowed her achievements and led to the termination of her membership. Her recent withdrawal from the club follows her participation in the T20 World Cup, where India’s performance fell short of expectations.

(With inputs from India Today)

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