Mumbai: Jain body takes over Wilson College Gymkhana

The state government has allocated more than one lakh square feet of land to the Jain International Organisation JIO on a 30year lease This land is for a Jain Gymkhana on Marine Drive next to the Hindu Gymkhana This plot currently houses Wilson College GymkhanaThe JIO organisation refused to comment for confirmation with a customer executive from the office stating ldquoNobody has information right now Send an email to the address on our website and we will revertrdquoSources said ldquoThe plot will be given on a 30year lease to the Jain International Organisation which has approximately 33 lakh membersrdquoThe Wilson College Gymkhana established in 1832 stands on this plot It has been with the Wilson management for over 100 yearsSources said ldquoThe lease seems to have expired and it looks like the mismanagement of the Gymkhana has led to the lease not being renewed in favour of the collegerdquoWilson College principal Prof Anna Pratima Nikalje did not respond to calls or messages seeking comment on the news This is a very significant development in the south Mumbai clubs and gymkhana space with prime clubs like the Royal Western India Turf Club RWITC and the Willingdon Club Tardeo hitting the headlines nowMarine Drive is a premier highvisibility spot and the gymkhanas on the stretch beginning from Catholic Gymkhana Police Gymkhana Wilson Gymkhana Hindu Gymkhana Islam Gymkhana and Parsi Gymkhana are the cityrsquos most identifiable and wellknown clubs with muchcoveted membership and aspirational value Several of these gymkhanas have years of history and are part of the social and sporting fabric of this cityAdv Cyril S Dara secretary Christian Reform United People Association CRUPA working towards protecting Church properties said ldquoWilson College had commercialised this property One would hardly see any sports activities conducted there and instead the gymkhana plot was used largely for commercial purposes like weddings etc This is perhaps why the lease was not renewed Here we have an example of how persons within the community itself have misused the plot resulting in nonrenewal of the lease and this landmark historic sporting jewel of a gymkhana slipping from their handsrdquoIt is learnt that BJP leader Mangal Prabhat Lodha spearheaded the Jain effort Lodha though denied the lsquospearheadrsquo role He simply said ldquoI will only say that it has gone to the right organisation and they will conduct many social activities that will benefit MumbairdquoThe Wilson College Gymkhanarsquos stunning heritage building witnessed a fire in 2015 The fire had gutted the roof and top floor of the building Several cricket pitches on the ground were also damaged then At that time former college principal Vishwas Sirwaiya had stated ldquoThe gymkhana is a part of the Wilsonian legacy and will always berdquo1832Year Wilson College Gymkhana was established