Ela Bhatt

Ela Bhatt was born in Ahmedabad in India (born 7 September 1933). She is the founder of the Self-Employed Women's Association of India (SEWA). Bhatt attended the Sarvajanik Girls High School in Surat from 1940 to 1948. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree from the M.T.B. College in Surat in 1952. Following graduation Ela entered the Sir L. A. Shah Law College in Ahmedabad. In 1954 she received her degree in law and a Gold Medal for her work on Hindu Law. She then taught English for a short time at SNDT Women's University, better known as SNDT, in Mumbai. In 1955 she joined the legal department of the Textile Labour Association (TLA) in Ahmedabad. 
Then in 1972 the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) was established with Arvind Buch as president and she herself as the general-secretary. 
     She awarded with the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2013 by President of India Pranab Mukherjee for her lifetime achievements in empowering women through grassroots entrepreneurship.

Born:              7 September 1933, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Nationality:     Indian
Education:      B.A.,LL.B.; Diploma of Labor and Cooperatives;
Occupation:    Lawyer, Philanthropist, Activist
Organization:  SEWA, The Elders
Known for:      Founded SEWA in 1972
Spouse:          Ramesh Bhatt
 
Awards     

• Padma Shri 1985; 
• Padma Bhushan 1986; 
• Ramon Magsaysay Award 1977; 
• Right Livelihood Award 1984; 
• Niwano Peace Prize; 
• Doctorate degree in Humane Letters, Harvard University 2001; 
• Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace , 
• Disarmament and Development2011

Ela Bhatt's book "We are poor but so many: the story of self-employed women in India" has been translated in Gujarati, Urdu, Hindi, Tamil and French