Abraham: I’ve reached a point in life where I feel the need to pause and reflect on the journey that shaped me into who I am today. Over the past thirty years, working closely with people from underprivileged backgrounds has taught me powerful lessons about poverty, dignity, empathy, and the true purpose of life. That's why I thought of writing my story, to share these lessons with others. I also hope that it inspires those who are financially well off, to extend a helping hand to others.​

Frontlist: The book reflects on your transition from global finance to social impact. Was there a defining moment that made you realize financial success alone wasn’t enough?  

Abraham: From the time I met with a nearly fatal accident while in military service in the Himalayas, I was planning to devote my life to social service. I entered a business career in the US to earn enough money and have the capacity to undertake social ventures. Throughout my professional career running my own company for 25 years, I was constantly thinking of how to execute my plan for serving the deprived. When I reach a stage where my financial capacity allowed me to leave business and undertake humanitarian work, I resigned from all my business activities in the US and came to India. 

Frontlist: You speak candidly about a sense of emptiness despite professional success. How central is this inner conflict to the narrative of the book?  

Abraham: My inner conflict while I was successful in business arose from the realization that I had not yet fulfilled my earlier promise to myself and entered social work to serve the needy. The decision to render service was already made much earlier, but I was impatient to begin.  

Frontlist: Your early military experience in the Himalayas seems foundational. How do those years shape the leadership philosophy you explore in the book?  

Abraham: My four years of training at the NDA (National Defence Academy) and the IMA (Indian Military Academy) was the foundational training I received to be an officer in the Artillery. The following three and a half years of service in the Himalayas bordering China and then along India-Pakistan border in Pathankot Jammu trained me in leadership roles. The discipline and commitment learned in the army would help me in all my subsequent endeavours.  

Frontlist: A major turning point in the book is the founding of Shanti Bhavan. What were the toughest challenges you faced, and how do you reflect on them in your writing?  

Abraham: The social ventures I undertook were in rural south India, an environment I was not sufficiently familiar with. I had to confront objections and obstacles from powerful village leaders and local government officials who had their own self-interest. Navigating through these hurdles were my initial challenges. The 2007- 2009 global financial crisis got hardships for me personally and the foundation.  

Frontlist: The book emphasizes long-term investment in people over short-term charity. Why is this approach so important, and what can readers learn from it?  

Abraham: Charitable projects run by NGO’s tend to address short term goals since donors demand meeting periodic targets. In the case of Shanti Bhavan, the children are taken at the age of 4, and the outcome of their education and training become evident only when they enter the work force nearly 18 years later. While the impact of this intervention is not demonstrable for a long period, some donors are hesitant to fund them. Lately, more donor organizations and individuals recognise the permanent and sustaining impact of our undertaking, and hence, they have shown greater willingness to assist. ​ 

Frontlist: For entrepreneurs and corporate leaders, what mindset shift does Mountains to Cross encourage when it comes to balancing wealth with purpose?​

Abraham: I believe that everyone has some goodness in them. They seek a purpose or a meaning to their lives, besides having a comfortable life. Those who live an affluent lifestyle are usually in a position to reach out to others who need their help. I have described the joy and satisfaction to my life from being of service to the deprived and encourage others to find their own path to serve others.  

Frontlist: If readers take away just one core message from Mountains to Cross, what would you want it to be? 

Abraham: Every individual with the capacity to assist has a moral duty to be of service to others. Empathy and compassion are not sufficient unless they are put into action to help those who are at poverty’s mercy. The book urges those who have the means to consider serving others.