It seems incredible that it is 22 years since Com.B.T.Ranadive, popularly called as BTR,  the revolutionary working class leader, left us forever. He was a leader who braved every obstacle and led his comrades marching on the correct path. Born on 19th December 1904, and highly educated, he opted to serve the people, instead of for a highly paid job. And that is what he did. He was closely connected with AITUC, the only union at that time and was its office bearer since 1928.. He was elected as the General Secretary of the undivided  Communist Party of India in 1948. When the CPI(M) was formed 1964, he was elected as one of the PB members, in which position he continued till his death. When the CITU was formed in 1970, he was elected as the first President, in which position also he continued till death.

I am fortunate to have been associated with him for a long period. He was a real advisor in organising our union as also organising struggles. He has attended many of our union conferences and addressed. When I invited him over telephone  to inaugurate  the Joint Circle Conference of P&T Unions to be held at Calicut in 19, without any hesitation he agreed. But a few days after he contacted me over telephone nd said that since a meeting of the Central Committee of the Party has been decided to be held on that date, he will not be able to attend. I requested him to at least send an article to the Conference Souvenir to be published. He agreed and within a few days received the same. It was a well prepared article on the trade union movement and not only it was published in the souvenir, but was also published in many of the union journals.

HIs entire family was with the party and the working class movement. His sister Ahilya Rengnekar, wife Vimala Ranadive – all were all India leaders of both CPI(M) and the CITU and women’s movement.

I pay my respectful homage to Com.BTR on his 22nd death anniversary.