Success Story with Scott D. Clary

Dr. Abraham George - Shanti Bhavan Founder | The Life That Actually Matters

January 15, 2026

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  • Dr. Abraham George's commitment to social service, stemming from a near-death experience and philosophical influences, dictated his decision to use his Wall Street fortune to found Shanti Bhavan, a residential school for children in extreme poverty. 
  • The core strategy of Shanti Bhavan is comprehensive, long-term intervention, educating children from age four through college to break generational poverty and the caste system by empowering them through quality education, leadership skills, and humane values. 
  • True fulfillment and happiness come from 'compassionate action'—moving beyond mere empathy or compassion to actively spend time and resources to create tangible, positive impact on the lives of others. 
  • Dr. Abraham George defines his life's purpose as being in the "hope business," offering children the chance to transform their families out of poverty through success. 
  • The most profound happiness and satisfaction come from reaching beyond oneself to create transformation and meaning for others, as detailed in his book *Mountains to Cross*. 
  • Aspiring philanthropists should prioritize building wealth first, gaining experience by visiting causes during vacations, and then choosing an honest NGO to support financially, rather than starting their own organization immediately. 

Segments

Motivation for Giving Away Fortune
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(00:03:55)
  • Key Takeaway: Dr. George’s decision to dedicate his life to social service followed accumulating wealth, driven by a long-held conclusion that serving the deprived was the best path to personal happiness.
  • Summary: Dr. George clarified he did not make millions solely to give it away, but rather worked for 25 years to earn enough to fund his pre-decided mission of social service. He reserved enough for his family and committed the majority of his wealth to this purpose, which he identified as his search for life’s purpose. This commitment was solidified nearly 30 years prior to the interview.
Near-Death Experience Catalyst
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(00:06:16)
  • Key Takeaway: A near-fatal dynamite accident at age 18, coupled with early readings from Bertrand Russell and Albert Schweitzer, crystallized Dr. George’s resolve to dedicate his life to service.
  • Summary: Serving as a military officer in the Himalayas, Dr. George narrowly escaped death in a blasting accident, leading him to question his purpose and decide to reward his survival through humanitarian service. His worldview was previously shaped by reading Russell’s condemnation of war and Schweitzer’s reverence for life. He subsequently planned to leave the military to pursue education and wealth accumulation as a means to fund his future social ventures.
Pivoting from Corporate Success
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(00:11:16)
  • Key Takeaway: The driving force behind Dr. George’s wealth accumulation was always the means to an end, leading to depression near the end of his business career because he felt unfulfilled by not yet achieving his service dream.
  • Summary: Dr. George maintained a comfortable, enjoyable life while building his company, simultaneously researching developmental economics for his future philanthropic goals, initially targeting Africa. He felt depressed toward the end of his business career because he realized he hadn’t fulfilled his promise to make an impact, viewing the money earned as merely a means to that end.
The Power of Travel and Perspective
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(00:20:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Exposure to the suffering of the world’s poorest populations through travel is essential for shifting focus away from the endless pursuit of wealth common in affluent societies.
  • Summary: If one remains exclusively among the rich, the need to address global suffering is often overlooked. Experiencing poverty firsthand in parts of Asia, Africa, and South America prompts individuals to ask how they can improve the lives of the suffering majority. This exposure can trigger a necessary mindset shift away from constant work and accumulation.
Shanti Bhavan’s Educational Strategy
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(00:26:24)
  • Key Takeaway: The strategy to combat social injustice and poverty is comprehensive, residential early childhood education starting at age four to instill superior education, leadership, and humane character.
  • Summary: Dr. George chose education as the primary tool for social justice because it empowers the disadvantaged to compete equally in the marketplace, unlike government aid which he felt did not break the caste system. The residential model ensures total immersion, teaching children basic life skills like hygiene alongside academics and leadership. The goal is to nurture character traits like humility and kindness alongside professional competence.
Effectiveness and Multiplicative Impact
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(00:58:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Shanti Bhavan demonstrates exceptional effectiveness with a 98% college graduation rate, producing graduates who outperform privileged peers and actively work to uplift their entire families and communities.
  • Summary: The program’s success is evidenced by students attending elite universities like Harvard and securing jobs at top global firms, a feat unprecedented for children from their background. Graduates are driven to improve their families’ status by building new homes and securing medical insurance for relatives, creating a powerful multiplicative effect in their villages. This success proves that potential is unlocked by opportunity, love, and commitment, regardless of birth circumstances.
The Necessity of Compassionate Action
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(01:01:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Empathy and compassion are insufficient for creating change; only ‘compassionate action’—the willingness to commit time and resources—translates feeling into tangible impact for beneficiaries.
  • Summary: Many people express sympathy or compassion but back away when asked to commit their own time or money to an effort. True impact requires preparation and action, such as keeping funds readily available to help someone encountered unexpectedly. This active commitment is what transforms feeling sorry for others into meaningful, life-altering assistance.
The Goal of Writing ‘Mountains to Cross’
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(01:05:20)
  • Key Takeaway: The book ‘Mountains to Cross’ aims to share Dr. George’s journey from Wall Street to social service to inspire others with wealth to adopt similar models of impactful giving.
  • Summary: A primary goal was to document the journey to show that impactful change is possible even for those coming from a corporate background, providing stories of overcoming setbacks along the way. Dr. George specifically wanted to emphasize the necessity of compassionate action as the driving force for personal happiness and transformation. He also intended to guide future generations on how to raise children committed to serving others and carrying the model forward.
Source of Joy and Meaning
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(01:09:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Meaningful life is achieved by living beyond oneself and helping others overcome suffering.
  • Summary: Dr. George finds joy in realizing he has lived a meaningful life by helping others overcome the ramifications of poverty. The core lesson from Mountains to Cross is that happiness is found when one reaches out beyond self-interest to help someone else. This transformation created for others is the ultimate source of personal joy.
Book and Contact Information
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(01:11:04)
  • Key Takeaway: All author proceeds from Mountains to Cross are donated to charity.
  • Summary: The book Mountains to Cross details Dr. George’s life story, including the influential factors that shaped him and his message to the world. Readers can find information on his website, drabrahamgeorge.com, or by searching for the book on Amazon. All money received by the author from book sales is used for charity supporting his work.
Ultimate Life Lesson
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(01:13:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Humility, caring, and consistently asking and doing ‘what is the right thing to do’ leads to success.
  • Summary: The most important lesson Dr. George wants to leave his children with is to be humble and caring. When facing an issue, one should simply ask, “What is the right thing to do?” and then execute that action. This combination of humility, caring, and integrity will ensure success.
Social Justice and Lead Poisoning
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(01:15:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The path to social justice is achieved through economic opportunity provided by education.
  • Summary: Dr. George’s driving force for returning to India was to bring social justice, which he believes is achieved through education creating economic opportunity. His work on lead poisoning involved conducting the largest blood lead testing study in India (22,000 children), leading to the 2000 ban on leaded gasoline. This low-cost project impacted hundreds of millions of people across urban areas.
Other Philanthropic Efforts
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(01:18:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Successful impact can stem from awareness campaigns, not just large capital investments.
  • Summary: Dr. George initiated a journalism school that became the best postgraduate program in India, aiming to promote investigative journalism and transparent governance. He also attempted a banana plantation project to empower village women, which ultimately failed due to severe drought over several years. He notes that time management is about prioritizing what one wants to do, not a lack of available time.
Advice for Aspiring Givers
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(01:23:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Individuals should choose a cause matching their passion and work hard to earn the resources needed to make a significant difference.
  • Summary: When deciding where to donate time or money, individuals must honestly assess their motivation, whether it is religious calling, empathy, or compassion. For those overwhelmed by starting large projects, the advice is to work hard, make money first, and then support an established, honest NGO. Visiting potential causes during summer vacations helps build necessary contacts and knowledge before committing resources.