B. T. Ranadive (1904 – 1990)

Bhalchandra Trimbak Ranadive, (19 December 1904 – 6 April 1990), popularly known as BTR was a legendary Communist leader, Marxist theoretician par excellence and unparalleled revolutionary in India.

BTR completed his studies in 1927, obtaining an M.A. degree in Economics with distinction. In 1928 he joined the underground Communist Party of India. In the same year he became a major leader of the All India Trade Union Congress in Bombay. He was active with the Girini Kamgar Union of the textile workers in Bombay and with the struggles of the railway workers. He became the secretary of the GIP Railwaymen’s Union. In 1939, he married Vimal Ranadive, who was already a trade union activist then.

In 1943 he was elected to the Central Committee of the CPI(M). In February 1946 BTR played a major role in organising a general strike in support of the RIN (Royal Indian Navy) Revolt.

At the 2nd Party Congress held in Calcutta in February, 1948 he was elected General Secretary of the CPI, holding this position from 1948-1950. During that period the party was engaged in revolutionary uprisings such as the Telangana Armed Struggle.