Abraham George
Encyclopedia
Dr. Abraham M. George is a Indian-American businessman, academic, and philanthropist. He is the founder of The George Foundation (TGF), a non-profit organization based in Bangalore
, India
dedicated to the welfare and empowerment of economically and socially disadvantaged populations in India. His foundation has initiated numerous projects in poverty alleviation, education, health, women's empowerment, and press freedom.
Notable projects he has spearheaded include the creation of Shanti Bhavan
, a free K-12 boarding school of international standards for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the creation of the now prestigious Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media
, a graduate school of journalism in Bangalore where he currently serves as the dean
. He also pioneered the successful effort to remove lead
content from gasoline throughout India in April 2000 and was instrumental in the creation of the National Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning in India.
In addition to his philanthropic efforts, George is currently Chairman of eMedexOnline LLC, a medical diagnostic software company in New Jersey, and an Adjunct Professor at Stern School of Business, New York University
.
He has also been recognized as one of the world's leading social entrepreneurs.
, at the southwestern tip of India
. He is the second son of Mathew and Aleyamma George, one of four children.
At fourteen, George was admitted to the prestigious National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla
. He subsequently went on to graduate as a Second-Lieutenant in a medium artillery regiment of the Indian Army
. George's first posting in 1966 was to the Northeast Frontier that borders China
, following the Chinese invasion of 1962.
The assignment ended abruptly after only ten months, when George was injured in a dynamite
explosion. Upon his return from convalescence, he was assigned to the Indo-Pak border where he served for nearly two more years and rose to the rank of Captain.".
"George has spoken of his time in the army as formative experience: "There is, I suppose, some stage in each one’s life that has a greater impact on his future than all others. For me, it was these army experiences that helped shape much of my outlook on life."
In the third year of George's service, he suffered a hearing
disability that would plague him for the rest of his life. At the time, doctors
in India were not trained to tackle his medical condition; it required specialized surgery
. By this point, his mother was already in the United States
, teaching physics and working for NASA
as a research scientist. His mother's position afforded him the opportunity to come to America; where he could have his surgery and start a new life.
, during the heyday of the segregationist governor, George Wallace
. He found the transition to be overwhelming, later writing of it: "I felt I had gone to another world, not simply another country".
Soon after arriving in America, George attended New York University
's Stern School of Business as a graduate student. While there he became an American citizen
. He specialized in developmental economics and finance, and soon after completing his doctoral work he decided to enter the teaching profession. Later, Chemical Bank, now part of JP Morgan Chase Bank, offered George a job as an officer in the bank which he accepted. .
George had worked for Chemical Bank for two years when he decided to start his own company, Multinational Computer Models, Inc (MCM), which would offer computerized systems to large multinational corporations to enable them to deal with their international financial risks. MCM formed a joint venture with Credit Suisse First Boston
where George served as the Chief Consultant and Managing Director of its new operations. George sold MCM to SunGard Data Systems 1998.
It was in January 1995 that George went back to India for the first time after a long absence. He returned with the goal of making his contribution to reducing the injustices and inequalities he had observed and learned about from the media and many published works.
A good friend of George's, Angeline Nair, organized a meeting with several prominent individuals of Bangalore
society. This meeting was the birth of The George Foundation, a non-profit charitable trust that would work towards the goals of addressing some of the most persistent problems in Indian society, especially with regard to the poor.
George's impact through The George Foundation has attracted acclaim from prominent people. Pulitzer Prize
winner Thomas Friedman
of the New York Times said in his book, The World is Flat
, "We must have more Abraham Georges — everywhere — by the thousands."
Since becoming a full-time philanthropist
, George has written several articles and has published two books:
George has also published over three dozen articles in international finance and on issues of global poverty.
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
dedicated to the welfare and empowerment of economically and socially disadvantaged populations in India. His foundation has initiated numerous projects in poverty alleviation, education, health, women's empowerment, and press freedom.
Notable projects he has spearheaded include the creation of Shanti Bhavan
Shanti Bhavan
The Shanti Bhavan Children's Project is a U.S. 501 and India 80-G non-profit organization based in Bangalore, India, that operates a K-12 residential school in Baliganapalli, Tamil Nadu...
, a free K-12 boarding school of international standards for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the creation of the now prestigious Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media
Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media
The Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media is a post-graduate school of journalism located in Bangalore, India. It was founded in 2001 by the BS&G Foundation, a collaboration between The George Foundation and Adi Chunchangiri Maha Samasthana...
, a graduate school of journalism in Bangalore where he currently serves as the dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
. He also pioneered the successful effort to remove lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
content from gasoline throughout India in April 2000 and was instrumental in the creation of the National Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning in India.
In addition to his philanthropic efforts, George is currently Chairman of eMedexOnline LLC, a medical diagnostic software company in New Jersey, and an Adjunct Professor at Stern School of Business, New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
He has also been recognized as one of the world's leading social entrepreneurs.
Early years
George was born and brought up in the seaside city of Trivandrum, KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, at the southwestern tip of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He is the second son of Mathew and Aleyamma George, one of four children.
Khadakwasla
Khadakwasla is a dam situated 20 km from the City of Pune in Maharashtra, India. This dam is one of the main sources of water for Pune. In the vicinity of the dam, there is a Dental Centre, a Veterinary Hospital, the well-known National Defence Academy and Central Water & Power Research Station...
. He subsequently went on to graduate as a Second-Lieutenant in a medium artillery regiment of the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
. George's first posting in 1966 was to the Northeast Frontier that borders China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, following the Chinese invasion of 1962.
The assignment ended abruptly after only ten months, when George was injured in a dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
explosion. Upon his return from convalescence, he was assigned to the Indo-Pak border where he served for nearly two more years and rose to the rank of Captain.".
"George has spoken of his time in the army as formative experience: "There is, I suppose, some stage in each one’s life that has a greater impact on his future than all others. For me, it was these army experiences that helped shape much of my outlook on life."
In the third year of George's service, he suffered a hearing
Hearing (sense)
Hearing is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations through an organ such as the ear. It is one of the traditional five senses...
disability that would plague him for the rest of his life. At the time, doctors
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
in India were not trained to tackle his medical condition; it required specialized surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
. By this point, his mother was already in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, teaching physics and working for NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
as a research scientist. His mother's position afforded him the opportunity to come to America; where he could have his surgery and start a new life.
Education and Professional Life
George joined his mother in AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, during the heyday of the segregationist governor, George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
. He found the transition to be overwhelming, later writing of it: "I felt I had gone to another world, not simply another country".
Soon after arriving in America, George attended New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's Stern School of Business as a graduate student. While there he became an American citizen
Naturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
. He specialized in developmental economics and finance, and soon after completing his doctoral work he decided to enter the teaching profession. Later, Chemical Bank, now part of JP Morgan Chase Bank, offered George a job as an officer in the bank which he accepted. .
George had worked for Chemical Bank for two years when he decided to start his own company, Multinational Computer Models, Inc (MCM), which would offer computerized systems to large multinational corporations to enable them to deal with their international financial risks. MCM formed a joint venture with Credit Suisse First Boston
Credit Suisse First Boston
Credit Suisse First Boston was the former name of the banking firm Credit Suisse.-History:In 1978, Credit Suisse and First Boston Corporation formed a London-based 50-50 investment banking joint venture called the Financière Crédit Suisse-First Boston...
where George served as the Chief Consultant and Managing Director of its new operations. George sold MCM to SunGard Data Systems 1998.
The George Foundation
Main article The George FoundationThe George Foundation
The George Foundation is a non-governmental organization established in 1995 with head office in Bangalore, India. Its founder is Dr. Abraham M...
It was in January 1995 that George went back to India for the first time after a long absence. He returned with the goal of making his contribution to reducing the injustices and inequalities he had observed and learned about from the media and many published works.
A good friend of George's, Angeline Nair, organized a meeting with several prominent individuals of Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
society. This meeting was the birth of The George Foundation, a non-profit charitable trust that would work towards the goals of addressing some of the most persistent problems in Indian society, especially with regard to the poor.
George's impact through The George Foundation has attracted acclaim from prominent people. Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winner Thomas Friedman
Thomas Friedman
Thomas Lauren Friedman is an American journalist, columnist and author. He writes a twice-weekly column for The New York Times. He has written extensively on foreign affairs including global trade, the Middle East, and environmental issues and has won the Pulitzer Prize three times.-Personal...
of the New York Times said in his book, The World is Flat
The World Is Flat
The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century is an international bestselling book by Thomas Friedman that analyzes globalization, primarily in the early 21st century. The title is a metaphor for viewing the world as a level playing field in terms of commerce, where all competitors...
, "We must have more Abraham Georges — everywhere — by the thousands."
Writing
George was a pioneer in the international finance arena, authoring several books on the topic:- International Finance Handbook (2 volumes), John Wiley & Sons (ISBN 0-471-09861-2)
- Foreign exchange Management and the Multinational Corporation, Holt, Reinhart and Winston (ISBN 0-03-046641-5)
- Protecting Shareholder Value: International Financial Risk Management, Prentice Hall (ISBN 0-7863-0439-1)
Since becoming a full-time philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, George has written several articles and has published two books:
- India Untouched: The Forgotten Face of Rural Poverty, Writer's Collective (ISBN 81-88661-18-X) - A description of Dr. George's initial 10 years of social work in rural India.
- Lead Poisoning Prevention and Treatment: Implementing a National Program in Developing Countries
George has also published over three dozen articles in international finance and on issues of global poverty.
Awards
- NYU Stern School of Business’ Stewart Satter Social Entrepreneurship Award, USA
- Spirit of India Award, America India Foundation, USA
- Hind Ratna Award, Non-Resident Indian Association, DelhiDelhiDelhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
- Millennium Awards, Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Center, USA