Indian Administrative Service (Retd.) • Educationist • Innovator
Email: vijoyprakash@gmail.com • Website: vijoyprakash.in
Profile
Current Positions
- Chairman, Bihar Vidyapith, Patna — the national university founded by Dr Rajendra Prasad under Mahatma Gandhi’s guidance (since 2014)
- Chairman, Atal Incubation Centre–Bihar Vidyapith Foundation, supported by AIM, NITI Aayog (since March 2020)
- President (Founder), Association for Promotion of Creative Learning (APCL) (since 1997)
- Chairman, Indian Institute of Public Administration, Patna Chapter (since 2020)
- Director, Sarv Sewa Sangh Samiti (since 2020)
- Chartered Member, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Patna Chapter (since 2024)
Formerly President, All Bihar Chess Association (2010–2013), and Trustee, Netarhat Alumni Educational Trust (1996–2001).
Public Service
Joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1981.
- Agriculture Production Commissioner, Government of Bihar (Jan 2015 – Sep 2016)
- Principal Secretary, Department of Vigilance (Dec 2015 – Sep 2016)
- Chairman, Task Force on Agriculture (May 2015)
- Principal Secretary, Department of Transport (Jun 2014 – Dec 2014)
- Principal Secretary, Department of Planning & Development (Mar 2010 – Jun 2014)
- Principal Secretary, Department of Rural Development (Jun 2009 – Mar 2010)
- Principal Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, including SC/ST, EBC & BC Welfare (Mar 2007 – Jun 2009)
- Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Bihar State Industrial Development Corporation (Dec 2005 – Mar 2007); concurrently Chairman / Director of Bihar Sponge Iron Ltd, Bihar Air Products Ltd and Bihar Caustics & Chemicals Ltd
- Secretary, Department of HRD (Primary Education) (Dec 2004 – Dec 2005)
- Secretary, Department of Cabinet Co-ordination (Dec 2003 – Dec 2004)
- Secretary-cum-Inspector General, Department of Registration; Secretary, Minority Welfare (Nov 2000 – Dec 2004)
- Secretary, Department of HRD (Higher Education) (Jun 1998 – Nov 2000)
- Commissioner, Kosi & Purnea Divisions (Sep 1997 – Jun 1998)
- Managing Director, Bihar State Credit & Investment Corporation and Bihar State Export Corporation (1996 – 1998)
- Director, Department of HRD (Mass Education) (Jun 1992 – Jun 1996)
- District Collector / Deputy Commissioner of Jehanabad, Sahibganj and Aurangabad (Feb 1989 – Jun 1992)
- Deputy Development Commissioner of Aurangabad and Jehanabad (Aug 1985 – Jun 1989)
He also chaired several Government committees, including the Pay Fixation Committee for University & College Teachers (since 2010) and the Committee on Non-Practicing Allowance for Medical & Veterinary Doctors (2014).
Education
- M.Phil. (Physics), University of Delhi (1980)
- M.Sc. (Physics), University of Delhi (1979)
- B.Sc., St Xavier’s College, Ranchi University (1976)
- Secondary & Intermediate: Netarhat Residential School and St Xavier’s College, Ranchi (1972 – 1974)
Professional training: Indian Institutes of Management at Ahmedabad, Calcutta and Bangalore; Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad; Tata Management Training Centre, Pune; National Labour Institute, New Delhi; National Institute of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi; and the Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad (1985–2009).
Honours and Awards
- President’s Silver Medal for outstanding performance in the 1991 Census Operations.
- Mahadevi Varma Smriti Shikhar Samman — Lifetime Achievement Award in Administration, Global Kayasth Conference, Patna (2026).
- Shri Satya Indira Foundation (SSIF) Global Peace Award for contribution to nation-building (2022).
- Distinguished Contribution Award (Social & Education), Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (2021).
- Padma Shri Dr B.B. Rao Global Icon Award, Social Impact category (2020).
- The book Creative Learning was presented to President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at a special ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan (2006); Education for Democracy and Apni Ekagrata Kaise Badhayen were released by successive Governors of Bihar at Raj Bhavan.
- Srijanatmak Ganit (National Book Trust) reprinted for the National e-Library and the Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh — now in its 8th reprint.
- Under his chairmanship the Bihar Chapter of IIPA ranked 3rd (2019–20) and 1st (2020–21) nationally.
- Featured in The Telegraph’s List of Achievers, Bihar (2012); honoured by the Buddhist Mission of India and the Indian Council of Arts.
- Rev. Shockard Shield for the highest marks in the college, St Xavier’s College, Ranchi (1974).
Flagship Schemes Initiated
- Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana — protection of the girl child
- Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana — discouraging child marriage
- Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti Yojana — women’s empowerment
- Mukhyamantri Bhikshavriti Nivaran Yojana — eradication of beggary
- Laxmibai Vidhwa Pension Yojana — social security for widows
- Mahadalit Vikas Karyakram — development of the most deprived groups among Scheduled Castes
- Mid-Day Meal Scheme in the schools of Bihar, and the introduction of Intermediate Agriculture teaching in the State
Institutions Established
- Mahadalit Vikas Nigam — a national-first body for the most deprived groups in society
- State Society for Rehabilitation of the Ultra-Poor — the first such State Government initiative in the country for the rehabilitation of beggars
- District Marketing & Supply Societies in Jehanabad, Aurangabad and Sahibganj, providing backward and forward linkages for poor beneficiaries
- Bihar Statistical Strengthening Society; Bihar State Literacy Mission; Bihar Apada Punarwas evam Punarnirman Society
- Atal Incubation Centre at Bihar Vidyapith; Institute of Packaging; Bihar Vidyapith Centre for Incubation & Entrepreneurship
- Deshratna Rajendra Prasad Shikshak Prashikshan Mahavidyalaya; and the children’s homes Apna Ghar and Nishant
Education and Creative Learning
Founder of the Creative Learning movement, built on the conviction that nurturing creativity in society can address the problems of the modern world. He established the not-for-profit Association for Promotion of Creative Learning (1997) and the innovative CBSE School of Creative Learning, Patna (1997).
- Heads Bihar Vidyapith and runs the Rajendra Smriti Sangrahalaya museum and the Maulana Mazharul Haque Pustakalaya.
- Developed a large body of teaching–learning materials, games and books for creativity, concentration, memory and imagination, including the Concentration Development Kit and the Developing Mind series.
- Created “Adrishti” (mental visualisation) exercises based on yogic methods of learning, found especially valuable for low achievers facing emotional difficulty.
- Originated the concept of “Broadstreaming” for educating the underprivileged and established Shabari Ashrams as community learning centres, particularly for the Musahar community.
- Developed “Education for Democracy” and Social Science Laboratories in schools across Bihar and Jharkhand.
- Principal Investigator for Women Entrepreneurship and Technical Entrepreneurship Development Programmes sponsored by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India (2021).
- Has lectured at IIM Ahmedabad, NCERT, XLRI Jamshedpur, NID Ahmedabad, Patna and Ranchi Universities and the India International Centre, New Delhi.
Planning
- Introduced “Entitlement-Based Planning” for decentralised planning, recognised as the Bihar Model of Decentralised Planning.
- Organised a special drive to register the births of 1.64 crore school-going children in 2013–14.
- Created a new cadre of Accredited Statistical Volunteers to relieve teachers of non-teaching statistical work.
- Conducted the 6th Economic Census in Bihar (2013) in record time.
Social Reform and Upliftment
- Land reforms: as Sub-Divisional Officer and later as District Collector of Aurangabad, led ceiling-surplus land acquisition (“Operation Todermal”) without favour.
- Anti-poverty: organised over 50 cooperative societies for the rural poor, including DAMUL (Daudnagar) and the country’s first all-women dairy cooperative union, JAMUL (Jehanabad).
- Tribal welfare: pioneering work for the Paharia community of Sahibganj — participatory mud-housing, IVth-grade employment, the Paharia Adivasi Mahotsava, and Pune Asara, the first tele-film made in the Malto language (1991).
- Communal harmony: maintained an almost incident-free Sahibganj district during the aftermath of the 1989–90 Bhagalpur riots.
- Led the Bihar Egg Sufficiency Campaign, promoting egg entrepreneurship.
- Working to revive the glory of Bihar Vidyapith, including clearing more than half a century of campus encroachments.
Field Work and Initiatives in Detail
Land reforms
As SDO, Araria and District magistrate, Jehanabad and Aurangabad launched a special campaign for land reforms. Took special initiative for acquisition of land surplus under ceiling laws from big landlords without favour. Also passed order of acquisition of ceiling surplus lands pertaining to families of influential people of society including those occupying high posts in government.
At Araria in 1983-85 took initiative to distribute land rationally to poor and underprivileged to solve the decade old problem of Land Grab movement. By properly rehabilitating the so-called land-grabbers who were basically landless people in search of a house site and decent living. By settling govt. land with them the major dispute was resolved as they left right over the so called grabbed land and confined to the settled land.
Extremist problem
Believes that the extremist movement is basically a product of socio-economic- cultural imbalance in the society as modernization has led to new orders, which is yet to stabilize leading to frustrations in the lower strata of society.
Extremist problems can be solved by solving the local issues by taking into consideration of the perspectives of the poor peopleee and providing good governance
As a Collector in Naxal-affected district of Aurangabad launched special programme in 1991 for land reforms under the name of ‘Operation Todermal’ to contain naxal movement. It contained solving the contentious issues related to land which included settlement of Gairmazarua land, ceiling surplus land and Bhudan land to poor and underprivileged, giving possession in the cases of wrongful dispossession, mutating cases of transfer of land to update land records, etc. One of the major contentious issues encountered was of dispute related to Mahua flowers. Mahua was non saleable under forest act. However, landlords in Tandawa region used to sell it by getting it picked from the forest region. Later when Scheduled caste people who used eat the fruit protested, a bloody dispute followed for several years leading to the death of several persons including several Mukhias of the region. The problem was finally resolved by giving right to pick Mahua flowers to those families who used to eat it as staple food. A family was given right to collect the flowers of maximum five trees at a token payment of Rs 5 per tree. Initially it was resisted by higher caste people, but later administration backed the Mahua right holders, the issue was resolved for ever leading to peace in the area.
Anti Poverty Programmes
Believes in organization of poor to be the best means for amelioration of their conditions by giving them better bargaining power and giving them benefits of economies of scale
Launched special programmes to organise weaker sections for economic activities. Organised more than 50 cooperative societies for economic rehabilitation of rural poor in Jahanabad, Aurangabad and Sahibganj.
Organised DAMUL (Daudnagar Milk Union Ltd) – a milk cooperative at Daudnagar (Aurangabad) Was first in the country to organise the all women union of Dairy co-operatives JAMUL (Jahanabad Milk Union Ltd) in Jahanabad district
Was one of the first in the country to organise DMSS (District Marketing and Supply Society) in Jahanabad, Aurangabad and Sahibganj to provide backward and forward linkages to the economic activities performed by poor peoplee
Recognising the Unrecognised
Believes in development of underprivileged by recognizing, nursing and developing the inherent creativity and creative skills in them
Organised ‘Shanti Mahotsav‘ in the extremist affected district of Aurangabad to recognise the inherent talents in different segments of society particularly the underprivileged
Developed pictorial storybooks depicting life of Shabari, the mythological character being worshiped by underprivileged sections of society, for giving recognition to their mythological symbols.
Composed poems in honour of the most marginalised community ‘Musahar’
Developed mathematical stories depicting pigs, the animal being reared by Musahars and Doms, as heroes
Developed slogans for recognizing the contribution of underprivileged in the community
Rehabilitation of Beggars
Believes that each individual is creative and love to lead a creative life. The poverty in society is basically an outcome of the imbalance between existing creative potential of the people and the opportunity for their conversion into economic activity.
Also believes that Beggars are highly creative people and their lot can be changed by converting this creativity into useful productive vocations
Persuaded Govt. to form a separate registered society named State Society for Rehabilitation of Ultrapoor for rehabilitation of beggars and street children and launched a special programme named Pahchan for this purpose.
Rehabilitation of Kinnars
Believes in working separately using the points of strength of each marginalized community. As principal secretary Social Welfare initiated rehabilitation of Kinnars who are one of the most marginalised group of the society. A separate action plan was made for the purpose.
Communal harmony
Did maintain almost incident-free communal harmony in Sahibganj district in the wake of famous Bhagalpur Riots 1989-90
Tribal Welfare
Has deep interest in tribal welfare.
Did a lot of innovative works for welfare of Paharia Community (an aboriginal tribe whose population has stagnated) of Sahibganj district. One of the main reasons for the stagnation of the growth of the population was the serious identity crisis in the community. The life of Paharia community was dependent on forests and wild life. It was integrated with the rhythm and rhyme of nature. They enjoyed wandering in forests enjoying fruits and flowers and singing songs and playing flute. Hunting was the main passion. As the forests dwindled and wild life reduced, they have started finding no useful purpose of living. Made a comprehensive effort for the development of Paharia community. As the tribe had great interest in singing and dancing, they were given opportunity of dancing and singing on all occasions. Their team was sent to Delhi to participate in the function organized on Bihar day.
For the first time organised Paharia Adivasi Mahotsava at Sahibganj in 1991 for the development of Paharias. For this, 73 special stages were prepared in the stadium for their dancing: 72 on the ground and one main stage. As each group kept dancing for the entire day, it was a historic day for them.
Was first to make a tele-film in Malto language-PUNE ASARA in which all actors were Paharias to organise Gram Sabha to free them from the clutches of moneylenders. The film was shown in local video halls. It attracted lot of crowds, who were greatly amused to see their own kith and kin in the movie. Several hundred Gram Sabhas were organized in the process.
Earlier housing was planned for Paharias at the downhill but it was found that they never lived in these pucca houses at the downhill and even the bricks were stolen. It was learnt that as the life of Paharias were integrated with the hills, removing them from their natural habitat would serve no purpose. So, it was decided to give them assistance to make mud houses at the top of the hill itself. The experiment was great success as they constructed beautiful mud houses and lived in them also.
In order to integrate them with the mainstream they were also given preference in employment of 4th grade.
Prakriti jodo movement
Has launched Prakriti Jodo Movement to promote nature consciousness by organising PRAKRITI MELA, Has developed various books like Exploring Nature series and Cassettes like Aadrishti
Selected Books and Publications
- Creative Learning: A Handbook for Teachers and Trainers — Viva Books
- Srijanatmak Ganit — National Book Trust
- Apni Ekagrata Kaise Badhayen — Rajkamal Prakashan; The Art of Developing Concentration — Prabhat Prakashan
- Abhivanchiton ka Shikshadhikar: Ek Srijanvadi Prayog (with Prof. S.K. Srivastava) — Viva Publications
- Gyan Setu — a bridge course for drop-out children, National Book Trust
- “Broadstreaming through Creative Learning” in Approaches to Educational and Social Inclusion (Routledge, UK)
- “Gamma Rays from Rotating Black Holes” (with N. Panchapakesan), The Astrophysical Journal (1984)
- Teaching–learning kits and series: Developing Mind I–V, Exploring Nature, the Concentration Development Kit and Social Science Laboratory books
Other Interests
Poetry on social themes, with regular recitals in Kavi Sammelans and publication in newspapers, magazines and the collection “प्रेम मंजरी”. Before joining the IAS he was engaged in research on black holes, and he represented the Bihar State Export Corporation at the International Trade Fair in Frankfurt (1995).