Jemimah Rodrigues’ Father Exploits Daughter’s Influence For Religious Conversions

Indian Women’s team recently failed to qualify for the semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. After a horrifying performance, the team will be facing New Zealand in a 3-match ODI series. Before that, there has been a controversy running around one of the cricketers. The star batter Jemimah Rodrigues has been indirectly involved in some improper religious activities. Her three-year membership at one of Mumbai’s oldest clubs, the Khar Gymkhana, has been cancelled. 

Reportedly her father, Ivan Rodrigues, has been carrying out ‘religious activities’ on the club premises. Gymkhana officials were forced to take severe action after members raised concerns about Jemimah’s father’s recent behaviour. According to the findings, Ivan Rodrigues exploited the club’s premises to host religious events to’ covert the vulnerable’. Jemimah’s membership was revoked following an annual general body meeting on Sunday. 

Notably, Jemimah became the first Indian female cricketer to receive honorary Khar Gymkhana membership in 2023. This is a misuse of power that the cricketer’s father has done. Converting religion has been one of the worst things practiced in India. As the person brainwashes the people whom he or she will be converting. There is still no law passed by the government regulating religious conversions.

Jemimah Rodrigues’s fame will be in question

Did Jemimah Rodrigues’s’ father leverage power for religious conversions? Khar Gymkhana president Vivek Devnani was quoted as saying in the report, “The honorary three-year membership given to Ms.Jemimah Rodrigues was revoked according to a resolution passed by the members who attended the general meeting held on October 20, 2024.” Another Gymkhana official stated that Jemimah’s father, who is also a cricket coach, utilised the presidential hall for nearly a year and a half. 

He hosted 35 events as part of an organisation. This is a clear sign of misusing power in his daughter’s fame. Khar Gymkhana managing committee member Shiv Malhotra said, “We hear about conversions all over the country, but it’s happening right under our nose. There was dancing, expensive music equipment, and big screens. As per Khar Gymkhana’s bylaws Rule 4A of the constitution, Khar Gymkhana does not permit any religious activity.”