Podcast Summary: Success Story with Scott D. Clary

Episode: Dr. Abraham George – Shanti Bhavan Founder | The Life That Actually Matters

Date: January 15, 2026

Overview

In this inspiring episode, Scott D. Clary sits down with Dr. Abraham George, a social entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and founder of Shanti Bhavan, to discuss a life devoted to purpose beyond profit. Dr. George shares his journey from military officer to Wall Street entrepreneur to champion of education and social justice for India’s most marginalized children. The conversation explores the origins of his mission, the creation and ethos of Shanti Bhavan, and the lessons he hopes to impart about real success, compassion, and building a legacy that matters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. From Near-Death Experience to a Life of Service (05:53–10:20)

• Early Near-Death and Search for Purpose:
  At 18, as a military officer in the Himalayas, Dr. George narrowly survived a dynamite accident.
  • “Lying in the hospital bed, I asked myself, why was I somehow saved? And that was the purpose. That's where I decided that I should spend a good part of my life... on service to humanity.” (09:27)
• Influences:
  • Books by Bertrand Russell and Albert Schweitzer changed his worldview:
    • “There is nothing right about war. It's about who is left.” (06:15)
    • “He writes about the reverence for life, that every life is very important.” (07:15)

2. Building Wealth With a Purpose (10:52–15:27)

• Pursuing the Means for Social Impact:
  Dr. George came to the US, earned multiple degrees, worked at JP Morgan, and launched his own company—all with an eye toward enabling a larger mission.
• Struggles with Material Success:
  • Admits he enjoyed a “comfortable” life before finding it unfulfilling:
    • “Towards the end of my business career, I was depressed. I realized that I hadn’t fulfilled my dream.” (14:06)

3. Designing a New Model for Social Change: Shanti Bhavan (25:59–33:44)

• Identifying the Core Problem:
  Poverty in India is deeply tied to social injustice and the caste system. Providing opportunities from an early age is the key.
• Strategic Focus on Education:
  • The vision: bring children from the lowest castes to live and learn at Shanti Bhavan from age 4 until their first job.
  • Three pillars: academic excellence, leadership & communication, and character.
• Unique Approach:
  • “It wasn't a model the rest of the world was doing. Nobody wants to spend their time and money in a remote village bringing up somebody else's children for all this time.” (36:03)

4. The Long View: 17+ Years for One “Result” (36:03–38:42)

• Funding and Patience:
  Dr. George initially self-funded the initiative. Donors struggled to grasp the 17-year investment horizon.
  • “People want to know within maximum of 1 year how many people have benefited... But I am telling them you had to wait 18 years. No donor in his right mind is going to give you money.” (36:03)
• Conviction Despite Skepticism:
  • “At the first board meeting I had, all my board members told me this is doomed to fail. And I said no, you wait for 18 years.” (37:57)

5. Transformative Effects: Multiplying Impact (39:00–44:08)

• Changing Families, Changing Communities:
  • Graduates transform their families' lives and inspire their entire villages.
    • “Their burning desire is to change the status of their families, bring dignity to their lifestyle… And without exception, every one of the children are doing it or have done it.” (39:00)
  • The “multiplicative effect”—each child’s success influences hundreds.

6. Living the Mission, Day by Day (45:10–47:24)

• Full Personal Commitment:
  • Dr. George lives on campus, directly engaging with students and staff, believing leadership requires immersion:
    • “It’s not a check signing exercise... You need to find agents for change, as they call it. People who have a heart.” (45:10)

7. Joy, Hardship, and Hope (47:24–49:46, 53:47–55:42)

• Profound Happiness:
  • “I’m a happy man. I wake up every morning with no worry other than how to solve a problem for a kid who is not doing well in class... The satisfaction of seeing improvement.” (47:24)
• Hurdles & Heartbreak:
  • Challenges range from local resistance and bureaucracy to heartbreaking family decisions that pull children away.
  • “These are emotional pain... There are many stories like this and that you have to stomach. These are ramifications of poverty.” (49:46)
• Hope as a Calling:
  • “Hope is what I offer. I offer hope to those children. The hope that they can transform their families from poverty to a modest life.” (68:48)

8. Effectiveness & Legacy (55:42–63:00)

• Measured by Results, Not Intentions:
  • 98% college graduation rate; alumni at Harvard, Stanford, Google, Goldman Sachs, etc.
    • “This has never happened in the history of India, really ever.” (58:38)
• Philosophy of Compassionate Action:
  • “Some people have empathy... you see someone suffering and feel bad, that's not enough. Some people have compassion... but it's not enough. You need compassionate action. You have to actually do something.” (60:34)
• Advice for Would-be Changemakers:
  • “I would definitely tell people to make money first... then get on with it. But in the meantime, learn about what you want to do.” (84:32)

9. Tackling Big Problems Beyond Education (74:51–82:43)

• Lead Poisoning & Environmental Health:
  • Led efforts to remove lead from gasoline in India, impacting hundreds of millions.
  • “At the end of the conference... oil companies... announced that within 15 months they will remove lead from gasoline all over India.” (77:30)
• Other Social Ventures:
  • Journalism school, empowering women through agriculture, and ongoing advocacy for social justice.

10. Reflecting on a Life Well Lived (67:11–70:36)

• On Achievement & Success:
  • “You have to say to themselves, how can I help someone else? And the power of that, the transformation you create for others, that will make you a very happy person.” (69:27)
• Most Important Lesson for the Next Generation:
  • “Be humble, be caring, and ask one simple question all the time: What is the right thing to do? And do the right thing.” (73:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Purpose and Fulfillment:
  • “The purpose of your existence can't be for making more money. And it's an endless game.” – Dr. George (17:59)
• On Direct Involvement:
  • “Sitting in New York will not work. You have to be there or you have to find the right people... agents like me who are willing to give their lives to the cause.” – Dr. George (45:10)
• On Impact:
  • “Whether they are poor or rich, it’s the same thing. Of course you have to work harder because of their backgrounds... But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where they come from.” – Dr. George (59:35)
• On Legacy:
  • “I am in the hope business. I am giving these children the hope for a better day.” – Dr. George (68:48)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–02:07: Skip (Ads, Intro)
• 02:07–10:20: Early life, near-death experience, and defining purpose
• 10:52–15:27: Career in America, building wealth, struggling with fulfillment
• 25:59–33:44: Origins of Shanti Bhavan, education model and strategy
• 36:03–39:00: Challenges with donor funding and the long-term experiment
• 39:00–44:08: Impact on children’s families and communities
• 45:10–47:24: Living onsite, leadership by immersion
• 47:24–49:46: Finding joy in the work, hardest moments, heartbreaks
• 53:47–55:42: Vision for impact, scale and legacy planning
• 58:38–63:00: Effectiveness stats, philosophy of compassionate action
• 74:51–82:43: Other ventures (lead gasoline project), practical social change
• 67:11–70:36: Reflections on a life well lived, advice for the next generation
• 73:19–88:24: Q&A, advice for aspiring changemakers, how to get involved

Further Resources

• Learn more about Dr. George and Shanti Bhavan:
  • Website: drabrahamgeorge.com
  • Book: Mountains to Cross (All proceeds to charity)
• Key takeaway:
  • “Compassionate action” is the bridge between good intentions and real, transformative impact.

This episode is a powerful testament that true success is about building a life that matters—for yourself, your community, and generations to come.