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 left school and joined Shri Veertatva Prakashak Mandal in Vile Parle, Bombay founded by Vijaydharma Suri.

He studied Sanskrit, Hindi, Gujarati and English literature as well as Jain philosophy and poetics during these eight-nine years.

[3][6][7] Jaybhikhkhu wrote in modern period but the choice of his subjects, novel genres and style are consistent with the previous generation of writers.

His education in Jain institutes and the wandering in the forests and natural places of the central India are chief influence on his writing.

The influence is apparent in choice of religious and historical subjects as well adventure inspiring real incidents in his writings.

He was among the first writers who selected mythological and historical subjects from Jain religious literature and wrote novels on them diluting its religiosity and highlighting the humanity.

He first published a biography of his guru Vijayadharma Suri in 1929 under pseudonym Bhikshu Saylakar, made up from his childhood name Bhikhalal and his native Sayla.