Ripon’s broken promise

After assuring the general body at the July 28 annual general meeting (AGM) this year that a resolution on whether to admit Parsi women as full-fledged members of the Ripon Club would be placed before the members within three months, the Club’s trustees and managing committee have reneged on their promise.
In a letter dated November 14 to Parsiana, trustee and managing committee chairman Xerxes Dastur stated, "As you are aware that, at the moment we are trying to resolve our issue with the property and other court cases which you will appreciate are crucial to the future existence of the Club. All our trustees are keen to resolve issues with the landlord first after which this issue will be considered.

Ripon Club: A male bastion Photo: Jasmine D. Driver

"It may please be noted that the issue of giving full membership to ladies was not on the agenda on the date of the AGM. In fairness to all concerned, an EGM (extraordinary general meeting) will be required to be called only for this purpose so that all viewpoints can be considered and voted on.”
Parsiana replied to Dastur on November 21 stating, "While the Club must, of course, safeguard its premises above all else, (we are) puzzled as to why granting membership to women would be an impediment? Any judge would look sympathetically at an institution that practices gender equality rather than discrimination.
"You state the Club does not have the funds to fight the case but admitting women as full-fledged members would augment the Club’s coffers. Only 10 women becoming life members at Rs 50,000 each would cover the cost of litigation to date, assuming five lakhs is the amount spent, as we have been told.
"When you gave an assurance before the general body on this July 28 to put the issue to vote within three months, you were aware a case for eviction was pending. Between then and now what has caused this change of mind? You also were aware when you made the commitment that the subject was not on the AGM agenda and that it was a trustee and member of the managing committee who raised the issue. We are therefore at a loss to fathom this volte-face.
"As litigation takes decades to resolve, the issue may not come up for the next 20 years or more. We must therefore assume the Club has no intention whatsoever of admitting full-fledged, lady members.”