Parsi Gymkhana, Marine Drive Explained

Centre Name:Parsi Gymkhana
Location:Marine Drive, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Opened:1888
Website:https://parseegymkhana.in

Parsi Gymkhana is a gymkhana (social and sporting club) located along Marine Drive in Mumbai. It was built for sports and social activities of Parsis.[1] The gymkhana is one of the founder members of the Bombay Cricket Association[2] The club has its own cricket ground, the Parsi Gymkhana Ground, where Parsis cricket team's matches are organised.

It was the first gymkhana to be built on communal lines in Bombay.[3] Founded by Parsi cricketers, the Gymkhana fielded the Parsi XI during the Bombay Quadrangular and its successor Bombay Pentangular cricket tournaments.[4] Parsi Gymkhana was founded in 1884[5] and was opened in 1888.[6] In 2010, Parsi Gymkhana along with other community organisations announced a project to revive interest in cricket among the community.[7]

During World War II, the government occupied the premises of Parsi Gymkhana and of Islam Gymkhana, leading the adjacent Hindu Gymkhana to offer membership to Muslims and Parsis as an "emergency measure".[8] As the gymkhana land belongs to the collector, one of its lease conditions is that the grounds should be accessible to 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.[9] During one such event in 2003, a fire caused by a leaking LPG cylinder injured 27 people.[10] In 2010, the local residents association moved the court to ban non-sporting activities at the ground, on the grounds that the general public was being denied access to it, something which the gymkhana denied.[9] Parsi Gymkhana had received special permission to hold events on 60 days during the year. In 2011, the collector restricted non-sport events to 25 days a year only on weekdays.[11] The gymkhana is also used for other events, such as the unveiling of the world's cheapest car, Tata Nano by Ratan Tata in 2009.[12]

History

It is one of the historic, prestigious Gymkhana of Mumbai along with Hindu Gymkhana. Parsi Gymkhana won police shield tournament in 1956 and 2021. Legendary cricketers such as Farookh Engineer and Polly Umrigar have played for Parsis in the past. In 2021, the club became the first to win back-to-back trophies in three different format, that is Talim Shield T20, Police Shield triumph (Test format) and Madhav Mantri Centenary One-Day 45 overs League.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kumar P. Pratap, Knut A. Jacobsen. South Asians in the diaspora: histories and religious traditions. 2004. Brill. 9004124888. 318.
  2. Web site: History of Gymkhana. 16 April 2012.
  3. Book: Sagar, Rachna. Together with Social Science Term II. Rachna Sagar Pvt. Ltd.. 8181373995. 73.
  4. Book: Aruṇa Ṭikekara, Aroon Tikekar. The Cloister's Pale: A Biography of the University of Mumbai. 2006. Popular Prakashan. 74.
  5. Book: Jozsa, Frank P.. Global Sports: Cultures, Markets and Organizations. 2009. World Scientific. 978-9812835697. 228.
  6. Book: Palsetia, Jesse S.. The Parsis of India: Preservation of Identity in Bombay City . 2001 . BRILL . 9004121145 . 153.
  7. News: Cricket pitch: Parsis aim to recover lost ground. 16 April 2012. NDTV. 14 October 2010.
  8. News: BOMBAY HINDU GYMKHANA: Membership thrown open to Non-Hindus. 16 April 2012. The Indian Express. 13 May 1942.
  9. News: Marine Drive gyms face legal battle with locals. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203002837/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-26/mumbai/28216775_1_hindu-gymkhana-weddings-grounds. dead. 3 February 2014. 16 April 2012. The Times of India. 26 October 2010.
  10. News: LPG cylinder fire injures 27 at Parsi Gymkhana. https://archive.today/20130103130517/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-11-21/mumbai/27193684_1_gas-cylinder-fire-brigade-lpg. dead. 3 January 2013. 16 April 2012. The Times of India. 21 November 2003.
  11. News: Gymkhana weddings may be limited to 25 days a year, never on weekends. 16 April 2012. Daily News and Analysis. 21 December 2011.
  12. News: Nano wait is over. 16 April 2012. The Hindu Business Line. 24 March 2009.
  13. News: Parsee Gymkhana create history by winning third successive title . The Times of India . 27 December 2021 .