NEW DELHI: Noted Gandhian, human rights activist and founder of Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) Elaben Bhatt (89) passed away on Wednesday after a brief illness. Elaben Bhatt, the founder of SEWA, a self-employment initiative that changed the lives of lakhs of women, was known as the 'Silent Revolutionary Woman'. One of the founders of Women's World Banking, Ela hails from Ahmedabad.

Elaben, who was inspired by the freedom movement and had joined social service after quitting her job, also received the Ramon Magsaysay award for community leadership. The 1996 International Home Work Convention was prepared to recognize the rights of domestic workers following Ela's intervention. She was the chairperson of Sabarmati Ashram. She had recently vacated the post of chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapeeth.