Islam Gymkhana, Mumbai

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Islam Gymkhana as seen from Marine Drive. Islam Gymkhana.jpg
Islam Gymkhana as seen from Marine Drive.

Islam Gymkhana, is a gymkhana (social and sporting club) located along Marine Drive in Mumbai. Land for the gymkhana was allotted by the then Governor of Bombay, Lord Harris in 1890. Until 1942, the gymkhana was the headquarters of the Bombay Cricket Association of which it is a founding member. It is the headquarters of the Maharashtra State Billiards Association.

The gymkhana membership is open to people from all communities and is no longer restricted to Muslims. [1] However, the gymkhana still hosts meetings of Muslim organisations. [2] Islam Gymkhana fielded the Mohammedan XI during the Bombay Quadrangular and its successor Bombay Pentangular cricket tournaments. [3]

During World War II, the government occupied the gymkhana premises as well as that of Parsi Gymkhana, forcing the adjacent Hindu Gymkhana to offer membership to Muslims and Parsis as an "emergency measure". [4] The gymkhana has been identified as a Heritage Grade IIA structure. [5]

As the gymkhana land belongs to the collector, one of its lease conditions is that the grounds should be accessible by the general public and non-sporting activities such as weddings are allowed to be held at the ground for up to 30 days in the year. In 2010, the local residents association moved court to ban non-sporting activities at the ground, since the general public was being denied access to it, something which the gymkhana denied. [6]

In 2009, the gymkhana found itself in the centre of controversy when it removed Abbas Kazmi as one of its trustees for defending 2008 Mumbai attacks accused Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab in court. [7]

In 2011, the collector restricted non-sport events to 25 days a year only on weekdays. [8]

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Parmananddas Jivandas Hindu Gymkhana, Primarily, historically known as Hindu Gymkhana is a gymkhana located along Marine Drive in Mumbai. It was originally started as Hindu Cricket Club in 1878. The gymkhana itself was inaugurated by then Governor of Bombay, Lord Harris on 5 May 1894. At that time it was located on Marine Lines, which was the only access as Marine Drive was yet to be reclaimed. Until 1942, membership of the gymkhana was restricted to people of Hindu religion. In 1942, when the government occupied the adjacent premises of the Islam Gymkhana and Parsi Gymkhana in Bombay during World War II, the gymkhana threw its membership open to Parsis and Muslims as well as an "emergency measure". Hindu Gymkhana was responsible for fielding the Hindu XI in the Bombay Quadrangular and its successor Bombay Pentangular cricket tournaments. The gymkhana is one of the founder members of the Bombay Cricket Association. Hindu Gymkhana organises several tournaments such as Purshottam Shield Cricket Tournament, which is the oldest tournament started in 1912 that it organises.

Parsi Gymkhana is a gymkhana located along Marine Drive in Mumbai. It was built for sports and social activities of Parsis. The gymkhana is one of the founder members of the Bombay Cricket Association The club have its own cricket ground, the Parsi Gymkhana Ground, where they organise their Parsis cricket team's matches.

Parsi Gymkhana Ground is a multipurpose club ground in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The ground is mainly used for organizing matches of football, cricket and other sports.

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References

  1. "History of Gymkhana" . Retrieved 16 April 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. "Muslim organisations to boycott Cong, NCP". The Times of India . 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  3. Aruṇa Ṭikekara, Aroon Tikekar (2006). The Cloister's Pale: A Biography of the University of Mumbai. Popular Prakashan. p. 74.
  4. "BOMBAY HINDU GYMKHANA: Membership thrown open to Non-Hindus". The Indian Express . 13 May 1942. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  5. "Dilip Kumar's Pali bungalow delisted". Daily News and Analysis . 29 May 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  6. "Marine Drive gyms face legal battle with locals". The Times of India . 26 October 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  7. "Kasab's lawyer removed from Islam Gymkhana". Indian Express . 1 May 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  8. "Gymkhana weddings may be limited to 25 days a year, never on weekends". Daily News and Analysis . 21 December 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2012.