Joravarsinh Jadav

Joravarsinh Danubhai Jadav (10 January 1940 – 7 November 2025) was an Indian folklorist and proponent of the folk arts from Gujarat. Exposed to folk culture as a child, he studied history and culture in Ahmedabad. He wrote and edited more than 90 works on folk culture, folk literature, and folk arts. He established the Gujarat Lok Kala Foundation for the promotion of folk arts. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019. He was also the Vice-chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Early life Jadav was born on 10 January 1940 in Akru village near Dhandhuka, Bombay Province (now in Ahmedabad district, Gujarat) to a karadiya Rajput Jagirdar family. His parents were Danubhai Halubhai Jadav and Pamba. He was the second of six children.

Career 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. In 1964, he joined the Sahkar 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 the Gramswaraj monthly

Personal life and death 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.

Jadav died on 7 November 2025, at the age of 85.

Works As of 2019, Jadav had written and edited 110 Books on folk literature, folk culture, and folk arts.

Recognition Jadav was awarded the Meghani Suvarna Chandrak in 1978 by the Loksanskriti Sodh Sansthan for his work Lokjivanna Moti. The Gujarat Sahitya Akademi awarded a prize for his Loksanskritima Pashuo. Aapna Kasabio Volume I received the first prize from the NCERT, and Doshino Deekro Bayadi Lavyo received a prize from the Government of Gujarat.