Joravarsinh Jadav | |
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| Born | (1940-01-10)10 January 1940 Akru,Dhandhuka, Bomaby Province, British India |
| Died | 7 November 2025(2025-11-07) (aged 85) Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India |
| Occupation | Vice-chairman ofSangeet Natak Academi, Folklorist |
| Language | Gujarati |
| Notable awards | Padma Shri (2019) |
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Joravarsinh Danubhai Jadav (10 January 1940 – 7 November 2025) was an Indianfolklorist and proponent of thefolk arts fromGujarat. Exposed to folk culture as a child, he studied history and culture inAhmedabad. He wrote and edited more than 90 works onfolk culture,folk literature, and folk arts. He established the Gujarat Lok Kala Foundation for the promotion of folk arts. He was awarded thePadma Shri in 2019. He was also the Vice-chairman of theSangeet Natak Akademi.[1]
Jadav was born on 10 January 1940 in Akru village nearDhandhuka,Bombay Province (now inAhmedabad district, Gujarat) to a karadiyaRajput Jagirdar family. His parents were Danubhai Halubhai Jadav and Pamba. He was the second of six children.[2][3] He was raised by his stepmother, Gangaba.[4]
He was exposed to folk literature and folk arts as a child due to his living in a rural area.[2] He received his primary school education in his village and in Sheth Hasanali High School inDholka. He received his secondary school education fromGujarat Vidyapith in 1956–57.[5] In 1961, he completed his bachelor of arts degree inGujarati language and History atSt. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad.[2][6]
Jadav found the remains of a LateHarappan site on a mound near the Khalavi lake near his native village of Akru.[2] This whetted his interest in archaeology and history, and he completed his master of arts in Ancient Indian Culture at the Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Institute of Learning and Research, Ahmedabad, in 1963.[2][6] His interests in folk literature, folk culture, and folk arts developed further during these years.[2]
After completing his master's degree, he became a teacher of Gujarati at Panchsheel High School in Saraspur, Ahmedabad. He left and joined St. Xavier's College as a part-time lecturer.[7] In 1964, he joined theSahkar weekly published by the Gujarat State Co-operative Union as a publication officer. He was later promoted to the post of chief executive officer in 1994 and served there until his retirement in 1998. He also edited and published theGramswaraj monthly[2][8] and edited theJinmangal monthly.[2]
Jadav popularised folk arts and patronised folk artists by promoting them on various mass media sites, including television and radio. In 1978, he established the Gujarat Lok Kala Foundation for the promotion of the folk arts and to give folk artists from Gujarat andRajasthan wider exposure and employment. The Foundation provided a platform for folk artists at the national and international levels.[2][9]
Jadav married Sajjankunwar, the daughter of Vadansinh Chavda, in May 1963. They had two daughters before his wife died in an accident in 1968. Jadav then married Hemkunwar, the daughter of Pethabhai Solanki, in 1969; they had two daughters and a son.[10][11]
Jadav died on 7 November 2025, at the age of 85.[12]
As of 2019, Jadav had written and edited 110 Books on folk literature, folk culture, and folk arts.[9][13] Since 1958, his articles on folk literature and folk arts have been published in various magazines and dailies, includingBuddhiprakash,Nutan Gujarat,Rang Tarang,Akhand Anand,Sandesh, andGujarat Samachar.[2][13]
His collections of folk stories set in a rural background areMarad Kasumbal Rang Chade (1968),Maradai Matha Sate (1970),Loksahityani Chaturaikathao (1974), andRajput Kathao (1979). His collections of children's stories includeBhatigal Lokkathao (1973) andManoranjak Kathamala (1977). His reference works on folk literature and arts includeAapna Kasabio (1972),Lokjivanna Moti (1975),Gujaratni Loksanskriti (1976),Loksanskritina Pashuo (1979), andPrachin Bharatna Shastrashastro (1981). ForGujarati Loksahityamala (Gujarati Folk Literature Series), he edited folk songs from theBhal region. He has edited several works of folk literature, includingSaje Dharati Shangar (1972),Loksahityani Nagkathao (1973), andGujaratni Lokkathao (1984).[2][14]
Jadav was awarded the Meghani Suvarna Chandrak in 1978 by the Loksanskriti Sodh Sansthan for his workLokjivanna Moti. TheGujarat Sahitya Akademi awarded a prize for hisLoksanskritima Pashuo.Aapna Kasabio Volume I received the first prize from theNCERT, andDoshino Deekro Bayadi Lavyo received a prize from theGovernment of Gujarat.[2]
In 2019, Jadav was awarded thePadma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour from theGovernment of India, for his contributions to the field of art.[9][15][16]
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