Yes, you read that right. The same gymkhana thatโs known for being a playground for sports and culture has now been (allegedly) doubling as a hub for mass religious conversions. Ivan Rodrigues, it seems, had been booking the banquet hall for over a yearโnot for the usual birthday bashes or community eventsโbut for his true calling: bringing Hindus into the missionary fold. Itโs as if they couldnโt wait to get into every corner of Indian life, from cricket to clubhouses, armed with their Bible and promises of salvation.
- Advertisement -
The โInnocentโ Banquet Hall Booking Jemimah Rodrigues
One has to hand it to Ivan Rodrigues for creativity. Booking the banquet hall under the pretense of social gatherings, he may have decided to try a โsubtleโ new approach to conversion. Why stop at the regular places of worship when you can bring your mission right into the heart of Mumbaiโs elite social scene? After all, if you can play cricket and convert souls under the same roof, why not kill two birds with one stone?
- Advertisement -
The idea of missionaries quietly sneaking in their conversion campaigns right under everyoneโs noses isnโt shocking anymoreโitโs practically expected. But to imagine that Khar Gymkhanaโs banquet hall would be the next โrevivalโ hotspot? Thatโs a twist even Bollywood wouldnโt dare attempt.
The Gullible Hindu Target Jemimah Rodrigues
Letโs take a moment to appreciate the missionary obsession with the โgullible Hindu.โ The poor, unsuspecting Hindu, lost in their myriad gods and rituals, apparently just waiting for someone to come along and show them the โone true way.โ Missionaries have been on this tireless mission for centuries, convinced that Hindus are spiritually starved and that all they need is a nudgeโor, in this case, a fully booked banquet hall for mass conversion. Itโs almost touching how persistent they are.
- Advertisement -
Because why respect ancient traditions when you can just hand someone a pamphlet, give them a cup of tea, and voila! Instant spiritual awakening.
No More Banquet-Hall Conversions! Jemimah Rodrigues
Khar Gymkhana, to its credit, didnโt take long to act. The moment the conversion cat was out of the bag, the club swiftly canceled Jemimah Rodriguesโs playing membership. Of course, the young cricketer might not have had anything to do with her fatherโs pious ambitions, but you know what they sayโwhen your dadโs in the conversion business, everyone pays the price.
The club must now grapple with the fallout. Members whispering, conversions lurking in the corners of the tennis court. God knows (pun intended) what other schemes are in the pipeline. Whatโs next? Conversion yoga sessions, perhaps? Or maybe a swim-and-save package deal?
Will the Missionaries Ever Stop?
The million-dollar question, however, remains. Will the missionaries ever stop? It doesnโt seem likely. From remote villages to Mumbaiโs high-end clubs, the drive to โenlightenโ the gullible Hindu masses knows no boundaries. They wonโt stop until every cricket ground, banquet hall, and living room has been transformed into a pulpit.
And why should they? As long as people are willing to listen, theyโll keep talking. Whether itโs over tea, at weddings, or apparently during cocktail hour at the gymkhana. And if the Hindus donโt bite, well, thereโs always next yearโs banquet bookings to look forward to.
So, for now, Khar Gymkhana may have shut the door on Ivan Rodrigues and his conversion activities, but rest assured, the missionaries will find a new venue soon. The banquet hall may be empty. The mission lives on! Undeterred, ever vigilant, and always on the lookout for their next batch of gullible souls.