AHMEDABAD, 7 November (H.S.): Padma Shri Joravarsinh Jadav, a distinguished figure in Gujarati folk literature, storyteller, and the founder of the Gujarat Lok Kala Foundation, has died at the age of 85. His passing has sent a wave of grief through the Gujarati literary community.

Jadav was a prolific author and editor who penned and compiled approximately 90 works centered on folk culture, art, and literature.

Born on January 10, 1940, in the village of Akru in Dhandhuka tehsil, Joravarsinh Jadav was the son of Danubhai Halubhai and Pamba, a farming family. He spent his childhood in his native village where he was raised by his stepmother, Gangaba, and developed a profound connection to folk traditions from an early age.

Jadav's extensive body of work includes the celebrated story collections Marad Kasumbal Rang Chade and Mardai Matha Sate. His dedication to preserving and promoting folk heritage earned him numerous accolades, including the Meghani Suvarna Chandrak and the Gujarat Sahitya Akademi award.

In 2019, he was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, for his significant contributions to the arts.

Beginning in 1964, Jadav took on editorial roles for several publications, including the weeklies Sahkar and Gramswaraj, as well as the monthly magazine Jinmangal. He utilized radio and television to bring folk arts to a wider audience.

In 1978, he established the Gujarat Lok Kala Foundation, an institution dedicated to providing a platform for uneducated, exploited, and nomadic folk artists from Gujarat and Rajasthan to showcase their talents and gain public recognition.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar