Popularly known as BTR, Bhalchandra Trimbak Ranadive was an Indian communist politician and trade union leader. He left for his heavenly abode on 6 April 1990. After completing his studies in 1927, BTR obtained an M.A. degree with distinction. Later, in the year 1928, he joined the Communist Party of India and also became a major leader of the All India Trade Union Congress in Bombay. Being active with the Girini Kamgar Union of the textile workers in Bombay, he later became the secretary of the GIP Railwaymens’ Union.
BTR married Vimal- a trade union activist in 1939 and was elected to the central committee of the GIP Railwaymen’s Union Party in the year 1943. It was in February 1946 that B.T. Ranadive played a pivotal role in organizing a general strike in support of the Naval ratings revolt. During the Indo-China border conflict in 1962, BTR served as one of the most prominent communist leaders who were jailed by the then government. He also became one of the main leaders of Communist Party of India called Marxist in the year 1964.