In a vibrant celebration of words and wisdom, Patna hosted the ‘Lets Inspire Bihar’ Literature Festival 2026 on Sunday, attracting top literary figures and eager youth. The event underscored Bihar’s journey from ancient knowledge hubs to a modern powerhouse.
Chief guest Arun Shankar Prasad, Bihar’s Art, Culture, Youth, and Tourism Minister, declared literature as society’s heartbeat. He stressed how such gatherings reconnect the young with cultural roots, fostering societal growth.
Vikas Vaibhav, senior IPS officer and festival patron, presented an ambitious growth blueprint. Referencing 13.09% GDP growth last year, he set a 15% target for the coming decades. Bihar’s 90 million young population, he said, is its superpower. Promoting startups over job dependency, he celebrated 30 affiliated ventures employing 100+ individuals.
Cultural discussions delved into reviving Bihar’s traditions. Prasad promoted his department’s guru-shishya scheme, urging participation in folk arts amid Nalanda’s glory and literary giants like Ramdhari Singh Dinkar.
IPS author Amit Lodha captivated audiences in a key panel on literature’s role in social reform from a Bihari lens. Sharing career anecdotes, he lauded Vaibhav’s vision. Mrityunjay Sharma steered talks on balancing bureaucracy with creativity, invoking Buddha’s empathy and calls to rise above divisions.
Several books were unveiled, spotlighting Jyoti Jha’s work. Attendees included Prof. Parmendra Vajpai, Rachna Yadav, poet Samir Parimal, Priyanka Jha, Pallavi Rani, Radha Shailendra, and Ashish Adarsh.
The festival concluded on a high note, promising sustained momentum for Bihar’s cultural and economic renaissance through literature’s unifying power.