Patna: Senior art journalists Reena Sopam and Naveen Rastogi have been conferred with the Bihar Ratna Samman 2026 by the Patna-based cultural organization Imagination. The honour was presented in recognition of their long-standing experience and distinguished contribution to art journalism and art writing.
The award was given during the closing ceremony of Biharangam 2026 held at Premchand Rangshala in Patna. On the occasion, senior officials from the Reserve Bank of India, Sujit Kumar Arvind and Prabhat Kumar, cinema expert Vinod Anupam, Prof. Jaymangal Dev, and Varun Kumar from the Art and Culture Cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party were present.
The evening also featured a staging of Samuel Beckett’s English play Waiting for Godot, directed by Kundan Kumar and performed by Dr. Kumar Vimalendu. Earlier, young artists from the Rock and Roll organization presented a dance performance.Kundan Kumar, organizer of Biharangam 2026, said that Imagination has been organizing the theatre festival Biharangam for the past ten years.
This year’s six-day festival commenced on January 23, 2026, and featured theatre groups from various parts of the country, presenting six plays in total. The festival concluded with an English play, which drew a large audience.He further stated that a special feature of Biharangam is honouring distinguished individuals who have made notable contributions to theatre each year.
This time, the award was dedicated to art journalism, and Reena Sopam and Naveen Rastogi were selected for their significant work in this field.Vinod Anupam, patron of the organization and a noted film critic, remarked that both awardees have had a long and impactful journey in art journalism. He observed that such a tradition is now rare in Bihar, and the depth of understanding and patience required for serious art writing is scarcely seen in the present generation.Art writer Reena Sopam shared that she wrote for over three decades in Hindustan Times, covering theatre groups and theatre practitioners of Bihar. She mentioned that it required immense effort to secure space for theatre festivals and cultural events in newspapers, and this award is the result of that long struggle and passion for writing.
RBI official Sujit Kumar Arvind said that initiatives like Biharangam must continue, as they help sustain artistic dynamism in society. Dr. Kumar Vimalendu noted that English theatre has resumed in Patna after many years and expressed hope to continue it with audience support. Prof. Jaymangal Dev stated that a new generation of theatre practitioners has now emerged in Bihar.
The programme was successfully anchored by Shweta Surabhi. Among those present were Prof. Nandita of Patna Women’s College, Shahla Rahman, senior artist Dinesh Kumar, Shyamal Das, and several other distinguished guests.
