Valank - book cover design

Jayesh Jeevibahen Solanki was a poet, theatre practitioner, and Dalit rights activist, known for his prominent role in the Una Dalit Movement in Gujarat. He was also an active participant and supporter of the anti-CAA and NRC protests at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi during 2019–2020. Coming from a humble background, Jayesh worked in factories and conducted theatre workshops to earn a living. However, the COVID-19 pandemic deepened his financial hardships, and amid ongoing struggles with depression, he tragically died by suicide in October 2020. A collection of his poems—translated by friends and professional translators—was published posthumously in December 2020 under the title વળાંક Valank (A Bend in the Road).