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innocent fun comes out very well coupled with the development and growth of child-life in easy and natural way. Thus, sweet smell is added to the gold by his unusual skill.
Jaya Bhikhkhu has lived on the income of his writings. He has encouraged others to live like that. He was not limited himself by any narrow ideals of literature but has written in his own way, as per his will. He received some indication of his death and he gave following message to his family.
Everyone should live life like a sweet smelling candle. He died on December 24, 1969. One pillar of the Gujarati culture was lost. We can light a lamp with a lamp and accordingly, his son Dr. Kumarpal Desai has been famous as a writer, professor, journalist and an orator at a very young age.
Shri Jay Bhikhkhu always longed for highest character and virtues. His literature also gives this message. After his death, Jay Bhikhkhu Sahitya Trust publishes his books.
His Literary Works:
He was a life-long devotee of the goddess of knowledge (Saraswati). He has given about three hundred books to the motherland of Gujarat. The following are note worthy:
⚫ Jain BAL Granthavli: Series 1 and 2: for children.
⚫ Lives of the Great men: Lord Mahavir, Acharya BuddhiSagar Soori, Upadhyaya Shri PremVijayaji and Shri Rajendra Soori Memorial Granth.
He has written characters and lives of many other saints, Sadhus, mendicants in a very simple language, which would be read with interest by children, young and old.
It was believed that Jain stories were dry with only renunciation, detachment, penance and imaginary scriptural stories, Shri Jay Bhikhkhu changed this belief entirely and now the Gujarati people of all castes, religions and creed read these stories with deep interest. Thus, Jay Bhikhkhu propagated Jainism by way of literature of interesting stories.
His son, Dr. Kumarpal Desai has continued to give us high level literature through Jay Bhikhkhu Trust since last few years. This literature is inspiring, awakening and above all it is enlightening also.
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