Ela Bhatt

Lawyer, Philanthropist

Indian Ahmedabad, Bombay Presidency, British Raj

Quick Info

ProfessionLawyer, Philanthropist
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth07/09/1933
Age89 years (died on 02, Nov, 2022)
BirthplaceAhmedabad, Bombay Presidency, British Raj
Date of Death02/11/2022

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Bio/Wiki

Full NameEla Ramesh Bhatt
Famous ForFounding Self-Employed Women's Association of India (SEWA)
Role ModelMahatma Gandhi

Physical Stats & More

Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorSalt and Pepper

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolSarvajanik Girls High School, Surat
College/InstituteM.T.B. College, Surat; Sir L. A. Shah Law College; Afro-Asian Institute of Labor and Cooperatives, Tel Aviv
Qualifications
  • B.A.
  • LL.B.
  • Diploma of Labor and Cooperatives

Personal Life

ReligionHinduism

Relationships & More

Marital StatusWidow

Family

FatherSumantrai Bhatt (Lawyer)
MotherVanalila Vyas
Siblings3
SpouseRamesh Bhatt
Children
SonMihir (b. 1959)
DaughterAmimayi (b. 1958)

Career

Awards/Honours
  • Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership (1977)
  • Right Livelihood Award (1984)
  • Padma Shri by the Government of India (1985)
  • Padma Bhushan (1986)
  • Niwano Peace Prize (2010)
  • Honorary Doctorate from Harvard University (2001)
  • Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development (2013)
Key Positions
  • General Secretary of SEWA (1972-1996)
  • Founder Chair of SEWA Cooperative Bank
  • Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (1986-1989)
  • Chair of National Commission on Self-Employed Women
  • Member of the Planning Commission of India
  • Member of The Elders (2007)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Ela established SEWA in 1972 to support women's empowerment.
2. Harvard University honored Ela with an honorary degree in 2001.
3. She played a key role in forming the Elders group.
4. Ela authored two books focusing on women's empowerment.
5. Hillary Clinton recognized Ela as one of the heroines.
6. She was known as the 'gentle revolutionary' for her grassroots development work.
7. She studied at the Afro-Asian Institute of Labour and Cooperation in Tel Aviv from 1970-1971.
8. She joined the Textile Labour Association (TLA) in 1955 and headed its women's wing from 1968.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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