Honourable senators, I rise today with a broken heart and profound respect as I join millions of people in India, and worldwide, mourning the loss of Ela Bhatt — Elaben — our sister, a world leader, a lawyer, a cooperator, a trade unionist, a banker, a promoter of fair trade and the green economy, a CBC “Ideas” fan, a devoted Gandhian, a feminist, as well as a gentle, powerful and effective revolutionary, and the founder — 50 years ago — of SEWA, the over 2 million strong Self Employed Women’s Association of India.

Elaben passed away yesterday in Ahmedabad, India.

A founding member of The Elders, a group of world leaders initiated by Nelson Mandela to promote human rights and peace, Elaben was a woman of vision, wisdom and curiosity with an unwavering dedication to improving the world.

In today’s tribute to Ela Bhatt, the headline in the Hindustan Times read, “Ela Bhatt sparked a fire that ignited a global movement.” The article continues, “Out of nowhere, cart pullers, vegetable vendors and petty workers became an economic brigade with Ela’s leadership.”

Elaben founded SEWA Bank, India’s first women’s bank, and the Indian School of Microfinance for Women. She was a co-founder of Women’s World Banking. She was a member of the Indian Parliament and headed the National Commission for Women there. Ela Bhatt was a trustee of The Rockefeller Foundation.

In recognition of her work to improve the status of women and the working poor, Ela Bhatt was awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, the Global Fairness Initiative Award, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Right Livelihood Award and the Légion d’honneur from France, as well as numerous honorary degrees, including from Harvard, Yale and Nova Scotia’s St. Francis Xavier University.

Colleagues, I had the good fortune of knowing Elaben for more than 30 years. Our common work with women and microfinance brought us together. The Coady International Institute and SEWA remain strong partners to this day.

Honourable colleagues, I wish I could sit on Elaben’s porch swing one more time to discuss our beloved families, and her views on our world and the future. But I can’t, so I will conclude this tribute with a quote on peace from Ela Bhatt so that you can know her better:

Absence of war is not peace. Peace is what keeps war away, but it is more than that; peace disarms and renders war useless. Peace is a condition enjoyed by a fair and fertile society. Peace is about restoring balance in society; only then is it lasting peace.

Honourable colleagues, let’s honour Elaben by continuing her work for peace and justice. Thank you.