At about 03.30 hours in the early morning today, I got an SMS from com. R.P.Joshi, Rajkot intimating that Com. R.T.Sharma, senior Trade Union leader of Vadodara has passed away . I was shocked. I could not believe the sad news. Only a few weeks back, I have met him at the Circle Conference of BSNLEU Gujarat Circle on 4th November 2011 and he was hale and hearty. Since the Conference was going on, we could not speak much, but  of course exchanged greetings and remembered about the old times. I contacted leaders of BSNLEU and got confirmed about the sad news. I contacted RT’s family and conveyed my condolences.

Com. R.T.Sharma was one of the senior leaders  along with Comrade A.C.Shah and other leaders who built up AITEU Class III, AITEU Class III(N) and then BSNLEU after corporatisation in Gujarat Circle. Comrades A.C.Shah and R.T.Sharma was a very strong team which changed the situation in Gujarat to the advantage of  BSNLEU and got majority. Even now I remember the Vadodara CEC meeting, when both of these leaders personally gave liberal donations for the work of the CHQ. In the earlier times, I have toured the entire Gujarat with these leaders.

It was a pleasant surprise to meet RT at the Gujarat Circle Conference due to obvious reasons. I never thought that this will be our last meeting. But it was to be so.

I express my deep grief at the untimely demise of Com.R.T.Sharma and convey my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and comrades. My Red Salute and respectful homage to the departed leader and comrade!