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Here are some **verified quotes of wisdom from Ela Bhatt** (1933–2022), Indian cooperative organizer, lawyer, and founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA):
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**On women and power**
“When women have access to resources, control over their earnings, and security of work, they become self-reliant and self-confident. That is true power.”
— Ela Bhatt, *We Are Poor but So Many: The Story of Self-Employed Women in India* (2006)
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**On development**
“Poverty is powerlessness. Empowering women is the surest way to reduce poverty.”
— Ela Bhatt, speech at the United Nations, 1990s
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**On peace**
“Non-violence is not just about not killing. It is about not having violence in our hearts, our relationships, our economy. It is about creating a society where nobody feels powerless.”
— Ela Bhatt, in conversation with *The Hindu*, 2007
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**On collective strength**
“Alone we are weak, but together we are strong. Together we can change our situation.”
— Ela Bhatt, SEWA address, Ahmedabad, 1980s
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**On leadership**
“True leadership is not about ruling, but about enabling. It is about creating conditions where others can stand on their own feet.”
— Ela Bhatt, interview with *The Guardian*, 2009
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Would you like me to also give you **short contextual notes** on each quote (e.g., how she linked Gandhian philosophy to women’s cooperatives), so they fit smoothly into your daily reflections project?