Mumbai’s top gymkhana revokes Jemimah Rodrigues’ membership over father’s ‘religious activity’

India women’s cricket team youngster Jemimah Rodrigues’ membership from Mumbai’s Khar Gymkhana got cancelled over her father’s ‘religious activity’. As per the Khar Gymkhana officials, the action was taken after some members questioned the cricketer’s father Ivan for using the club premises for “religious activities” and alleged that events were organised to “convert” the “vulnerable”. A 2015 video of Jemimah has also resurfaced where she can be seen participating in an evangelical event organised by ‘Bro Manuel Ministries’ (an organisation her father, Ivan, has been associated with for long).

The decision to cancel Jemimah’s membership was taken at Sunday’s (Oct 20) annual general body meeting. On the other hand, text messages and phone calls were reportedly made to the 24-year-old and her father for comments, however, they went unanswered.

Khar Gymkhana president Vivek Devnani confirmed the action and told The Indian Express, “The honorary three-year membership given to Ms Jemimah Rodrigues was revoked pursuant to a resolution passed by the members who attended the general meeting held on October 20, 2024.”

Meanwhile, the club’s managing committee member Shiv Malhotra stated, “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.”

“We hear about conversions all over the country, but it’s happening right under our nose. There was dancing, expensive music equipment, big screens. As per Khar Gymkhana’s bye-laws Rule 4A of the constitution, Khar Gymkhana does not permit any religious activity,” Malhotra further mentioned.

Former Khar Gymkhana president Nitin Gadekar revealed that he came to know about the ‘religious activity’ courtesy of a staff member. “Me, Malhotra and a few other members went to see it. We saw the room was dark, trance music was playing and a lady was saying ‘He is coming to save us’. I was surprised how Gymkhana can allow this in the first place. We protested and it was decided to cancel her membership,” Gadekar pointed out.

In 2023, Khar Gymkhana invited Jemimah to be a member and use its facilities. The youngster, who debuted in 2018, is an integral part of the Indian women’s team. She was part of the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian team for the 2024 T20 World Cup, where the Women in Blue failed to reach the semifinals. The mega event, held in UAE, was won by New Zealand.