>Marcocapelle at 08:23, 11 June 2021

2021-06-11T08:23:11Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Jaybhikhkhu
| image = Gujarati Vishwakosh44.jpg
| image_upright = 0.8
| caption = Young Jaybhikhkhu
| pseudonym = Jaybhikhkhu, Veerkumar, Bhikshu Saylakar
| birth_name = Balabhai Virchand Desai
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1908|6|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Vinchhiya, [[Saurashtra (state)|Saurashtra]], British India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1969|12|24|1908|6|26|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]], India
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Novelist
* essayist
* biographer
* children's writer
}}
| language = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
| residence =
| nationality = Indian
| education =
| alma_mater =
| home_town =
| period =
| genre =
| notableworks =
| spouse = {{marriage|Vijayabahen|13 May 1930}}
| children = [[Kumarpal Desai]]
| awards =
| signature =
| years_active =
| website = 
}}

'''Balabhai Virchand Desai''', better known by his pen name '''Jaybhikhkhu''', was a [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] novelist, short story writer, playwright, essayist, and biographer from [[Gujarat]], India. He is known for his historical novels.

==Biography==
[[File:Jaybhikhkhu Birth Place Vinchhiya.png|thumb|Jaybhikhkhu's Birthplace in Vinchhiya]]
[[File:Gujarati Vishwakosh39.png|thumb|Jaybhikhkhu with [[Dhirubhai Thaker]] (right), around 1948]]
Jaybhikhkhu was born on 26 June 1908 at Vinchhiya, a village in [[Saurashtra (state)|Saurashtra]] to Virchand Khemchandbhai Desai and Parvatibahen. His family belonged to [[Sayla]]. His father had served as an administrator of the [[Varsoda State]] and other principalities.{{sfn | Thakkar |2007|pp=2-3}} His mother died in [[Wadhwan]] when he was four so he spent his childhood in his maternal uncle's home.{{sfn | Thakkar |2007|pp=2-3}}

He received his primary education in [[Botad]] and in Varsoda near [[Vijapur]]. He received secondary education till level 3 in English medium from Tutorial Highschool, Ahmedabad. He left school and joined Shri Veertatva Prakashak Mandal in [[Vile Parle]], [[Bombay]] founded by Vijaydharma Suri. When this institute moved, he moved to [[Varanasi|Kashi]], [[Agra]] and at last to Gurukul at Shivapuri in [[Gwalior state]]. He studied Sanskrit, Hindi, Gujarati and English literature as well as [[Jain philosophy]] and poetics during these eight-nine years. He received Nyayatirtha from Culcutta Sanskrit Association and Tarkabhushan from Shivpuri Gurukul.{{sfn | Thakkar |2007|pp=3-4}}<ref name=":c"/>

He was influenced by religious environment in his family, his education in Jain philosophy and poetics. He was impressed by [[Govardhanram Tripathi]]'s ''[[Saraswatichandra (novel)|Saraswatichandra]]''. He had decided to follow four rules in his life: never do a job, not take any property from his father, not give his son any property and earn living through writing.{{sfn | Thakkar |2007|p=5}}<ref name=":c"/>

He died on 24 December 1969 in Ahmedabad.{{sfn | Thakkar |2007|p=16}}<ref name=":c">{{Cite book|title=ગુજરાતી વિશ્વકોશ|last=Thakkar|first=Natubhai|publisher=Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust, Ahmedabad|year=1996|editor-last=Thaker|editor-first=Dhirubhai|editor-link=Dhirubhai Thaker|edition=1st|volume=VII|location=[[Ahmedabad]]|pages=461–462|language=gu|script-title=gu:[[Gujarati Vishwakosh]]|trans-title=Gujarati Encyclopaedia|oclc=164765976}}</ref>

==Works==
Jaybhikhkhu was a novelist, short story writer, playwright, biographer, children's writer and journalist. He had written more than 300 books including 20 novels, 21 short story collections, 7 plays and 66 short biographies. His ''Prembhakta Kavi Jaydev'' was adapted into Gujarati film ''Geetgovind'' by [[Kanu Desai]]. He wrote several popular columns in dailies including Int Ane Imarat in ''[[Gujarat Samachar]]'', Na Phool Na Kanta in ''Gujarat Times''. He also wrotes columns in ''Jain Jyoti'', ''Vidyarthi'' and ''Ravivar'' weeklies as well as ''Zagmag'', a children's weekly published by ''Gujarat Samachar''. He was also associated with ''Akhand Anand'' and ''Jankalyan'' magazines.<ref name=":c"/>{{sfn | Thakkar |2007|p=13}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યની વિકાસરેખા - 4|last=Thaker|first=Dhirubhai|publisher=Gurjar Granthratna Karyalaya|year=1994|edition=Revised|location=Ahmedabad|pages=126–127|language=gu|script-title=gu:Gujarati Sahityani Vikasrekha - 4|trans-title=An Outline of the Development of Gujarati Literature, Part Four|author-link=Dhirubhai Thaker}}</ref>

===Novels===
{{Columns list|colwidth=20em|
* ''Bhagyavidhata'' (1935)
* ''Kamavijeta Sthulibhadra'' (1941)
* ''Bhagwan Rushabhdev'' (1947)
* ''Chakravarti Bharatdev'' (1953)
* ''Bharat Bahubali'' (1958)
* ''Prembhakta Kavi Jaydev'' (1945)
* ''Vikramaditya Hemu'' (1944)
* ''Bhagyanirman'' (1948)
* ''Dilhishwar'' (1951)
* ''Prem Nu Mandir'' (1950)
* ''Premavatar'' Part I-II (1963)
* ''Lokhandi Khakh Na Phool'' Part I-II (1960)
* ''Narkesari'' (1962)
* ''Sansarsetu'' (1960)
* ''Shatru Ke Ajatshatru'' Part I-II (1961)
* ''Buro Deval'' (1955)
* ''Dasi Janam Janamni'' (1958)
}}

===Short story collections===
{{Columns list|colwidth=20em|
* ''Madare Vatan'' (1950)
* ''Yadavasthali'' (1952)
* ''Matinu Attar'' (1963)
* ''Gulab ane Kantak''
* ''Sat Ni Bandhi Prithvi'' (1957)
* ''Upavan'' (1944)
* ''Parka Ghar Ni Lakshmi'' (1946)
* ''Kanchan ane Kamini'' (1950)
* ''Angana'' (1956)
* ''Kajal ane Ariso'' (1962)
* ''Kanyadan'' (1964)
* ''Kar Le Singar'' (1959)
* ''Sooli Par Sej Hamari'' (1964)
* ''Manva Ni Tekri''
* ''Kaam Nu Aushadh''
* ''Lilo Santho''
* ''Pag Nu Zanzar'' (1967)
* ''Manzarukho'' (1965)
* ''Sinhpurush'' (1953)
* ''Devdooshya'' (1951)
* ''Bhagwan Mallinath'' (1949)
* ''Virdharmani Vato'' (1947)
* ''Jaybhikhkhu Vartasaurabh'' Part I (1956)
* ''Jaybhikhkhu Vartasaurabh'' Part II (1956)
* ''Pap ane Punya'' (1958)
}}

===Plays===
{{Columns list|colwidth=20em|
* ''Rasiyo Valam'' (1955)
* ''Aa Dhool, Aa Mati'' (1964)
* ''Patit-Pavan'' (1953)
* ''Bahuroopi'' (1955)
* ''Panna Dai'' (1955)
* ''Geetgovind No Gayak'' (1952)
}}

== Style and influence ==
Jaybhikhkhu wrote in modern period but the choice of his subjects, novel genres and style are consistent with the previous generation of writers. His education in Jain institutes and the wandering in the forests and natural places of the central India are chief influence on his writing. The influence is apparent in choice of religious and historical subjects as well adventure inspiring real incidents in his writings. He was among the first writers who selected mythological and historical subjects from Jain religious literature and wrote novels on them diluting its religiosity and highlighting the humanity. His writings are fast paced, picturesque and adorned with metaphors; influenced by his study of Sanskrit literature. His creativity are visible in historical novels. His short stories are simple and plot driven as in the old school style. His writings for teens include adventure inspiring and informative. He has written animal fables in the style of Panchatantra drawing from Hindu, Jain and Buddhist literature.<ref name=":0" />

==Legacy==
[[File:Gujarati Vishwakosh41.jpg|thumb|Jaybhikhkhu road in Ahmedabad named after him]]
A road in [[Paldi]] area of Ahmedabad is named after him. Established in his memory, Shri Jaybhikhkhu Sahitya Trust publishes books, organises lectures, gives scholarships and Jaybhikhkhu Award.<ref name=":c"/>{{sfn | Thakkar |2007|p=14}}

== Personal life ==
[[File:Jaybhikhkhu residence in Ahmedabad.jpg|thumb|Jayvijay, his residence in Ahmedabad|left]]
Jaybhikhkhu married Vijayabahen, a daughter of a businessman from [[Ranpur, Gujarat|Ranpur]], on 13 May 1930. Their son [[Kumarpal Desai]] is also a writer.{{sfn | Thakkar |2007|p=4}}<ref name=":c" />

Jaybhikhhu was fondly called Bhikhalal in his childhood while Balabhai was his official name. Jaybhikhkhu had written under several pseudonyms. He first published a biography of his [[guru]] Vijayadharma Suri in 1929 under pseudonym Bhikshu Saylakar, made up from his childhood name Bhikhalal and his native [[Sayla]].{{sfn | Thakkar |2007|p=13}} Another pseudonym used by him was Veerkumar. He created his pseudonym Jaybhikhkhu from a name of his wife Vijaya and his childhood name Bhikhalal.{{sfn | Thakkar |2007|p=4}}<ref name=":c" />

==See also==
* [[List of Gujarati-language writers]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book|title=જયભિખ્ખુ: વ્યક્તિત્વ અને વાડ્ઙમય|last=Thakkar|first=Natubhai|publisher=Shri Jaybhikhkhu Sahitya Trust|edition=2nd|location=Ahmedabad|publication-date=November 2007|language=gu|trans-title=Jaybhikhkhu: Life and Works|oclc=500320157|pages=2–16}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|editor-last=Adalja|editor-first=Varsha|editor-link=Varsha Adalja|title=શીલભદ્ર સારસ્વત જયભિખ્ખુ|trans-title=Seminar papers on Jaybhikhkhu|language=gu|year=2012|location=New Delhi|publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]]|isbn=978-81-260-3257-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Raval|first=Praful|author-link=Praful Raval|title=[[s:gu:જીવનધર્મી સાહિત્યકાર જયભિખ્ખુ|જીવનધર્મી સાહિત્યકાર જયભિખ્ખુ]]|trans-title=Biography of Jaybhikhkhu|language=gu|year=2008|location=Ahmedabad|publisher=Shri Jaybhikhkhu Sahitya Trust|oclc=233030818}}

==External links==
{{wikisourcelang|gu|સર્જક:જયભિખ્ખુ|Jaybhikhkhu}}
{{commons category}}
* {{Internet Archive author|search=Jaybhikhkhu}}
* {{Gbooks-author|Jayabhikhkhu}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jaybhikhkhu}}
[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:1969 deaths]]
[[Category:Writers from Ahmedabad]]
[[Category:People from Rajkot district]]
[[Category:Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language writers]]
[[Category:Indian short story writers]]
[[Category:Indian biographers]]
[[Category:Indian children's writers]]
[[Category:Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Indian columnists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]

Jaybhikhkhu - Revision history

>Marcocapelle at 08:23, 11 June 2021