About Us

In mid 1990s, a group of young people dreaming of bringing education to all realised that the education system in present form is not able to attract excluded communities. Later it was corroborated in census 2001 when it was found that in Bihar the percentage growth of literacy in SC grew from 6.0% (1961) to 28.5% (2001), in which the literacy rate of Musahar community grew from 2.1% (1961) to 9.0% (2001). They found that the creative potential of the excluded communities does not get recognized and is not supported in the present education system. Their informal learning system based on their folk games, folk plays, folk stories, folk paintings and such other learning activities, which creates base for better participation and success in formal learning system does not find place in the modern learning system.  This is one of the main reasons for their non-participation and non-retention in the school system. Thus their self-esteem does not grow to the desired level and they are trapped into a vicious cycle of less learning, less productivity and less income. Their participation in the political process also becomes less representative.

Thus the group decided to work for developing and promoting a learning system based on creativity taking into account the local cultural context. Then began consultations, discussions, seminar and workshop and in the process a concept of Creative Learning was born. As most of the members of the group were alumni of a government run residential school, Netarhat Residential School, they also thought that as they have been brought up at the cost of a large number of children of the society, it is their bounden duty to work for those at whose cost they have been groomed. So spirited by a concern of giving back and to disseminate and promote the idea of creativity and creative learning, Association for Promotion of Creative Learning (APCL) was established as a not- for- profit organization in 1997.

Founded in 1997, the Association for Promotion of Creative Learning (APCL) is a pioneering not-for-profit organisation dedicated to fostering creativity and holistic education in India. It was born from a vision to make learning a joyful, inclusive, and empowering experience, especially for children from underprivileged and excluded communities.

APCL is guided by the philosophy that creativity is the ultimate source of happiness and a key driver for personal and societal progress. The Association promotes Creativism, a concept propounded by Vijoy Prakash and Dr Mridula Prakash, which advocates learning through joy, cooperation, and harmony with nature.

APCL’s flagship initiative, the School of Creative Learning, established in 1997 in Patna, has grown into a beacon of innovation and excellence. The school nurtures a wide spectrum of creative competencies—including concentration, memory, thinking, imagination, observation, communication, and emotional management—alongside academic achievement. Its progressive methodologies have helped transform the lives of countless children, particularly those failed by conventional education systems.

APCL envisions an education system where every child is seen as a creator and every learning experience is rooted in curiosity, culture, and joy. Over its 25+ years of journey, the Association has become a catalyst for creative empowerment—helping thousands of learners unlock their full potential and inspiring change in educational thought and practices.

Empowering Minds: 25 Years of Creative Learning chronicles the inspiring journey of the Association for Promotion of Creative Learning (APCL) and its flagship School of Creative Learning in Patna, Bihar. Founded in 1997, APCL was born from the vision of nurturing creativity and fostering an inclusive learning environment for all children, especially those from marginalised communities.

Over 25 years, APCL has championed the belief that creativity is the source of happiness and a driver of holistic growth. Through its innovative pedagogy—blending culture, arts, and modern education—the School of Creative Learning has helped students develop core competencies like concentration, memory, imagination, thinking, observation, and communication. Signature initiatives such as the Creativity Olympiad, Math Mela, Adrishti Yog, and the Atal Tinkering Lab have created a vibrant ecosystem of joyful, hands-on learning.

The book highlights APCL’s deep-rooted philosophy of Creativism, which envisions a learning society where every place, occasion, and person becomes a source of learning. It also showcases APCL’s efforts in grassroots educational inclusion, capacity-building, and creating learning materials that promote curiosity and creativity.

Empowering Minds is both a reflection on a remarkable 25-year journey and a call to action for transforming education through creativity, inclusivity, and lifelong learning.