Balabhai Virchand Desai, better known by his pen name Jaybhikhkhu, was a Gujarati novelist, short story writer, playwright, essayist, and biographer from Gujarat, India. He is known for his historical novels. Jaybhikhkhu was born on 26 June 1908 at Vinchhiya, a village in 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. His mother died in Wadhwan when he was four so he spent his childhood in his maternal uncle's home.