Son of Shri Ram Rao and Shrimati Radha Bai, he was born at Isthae, district Beed in Maharashtra on December, 1, 1929. He received his primary education at Pandharpur High School and higher education at T.R. Ayurvedic College, Pune. He married Dr. Sudha on August 1, 1958 and the couple have two daughters.

A Social worker to the core, Bapu participated in the Quit India Movement' of 1942 and was imprisoned six times while participating in different agitations pertaining to prices, farmers' demands and Samyukt Maharashtra Movement.. He was active in the ‘Second Freedom Struggle’ and was imprisoned during Emergency from October, 1975 to January, 1977. Dr. Kaldate participated in `Kisan Dandi', a long march of farmers, in January, 1980. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in April, 1984 and re-elected in April, 1990.

An avid traveller, Dr. Kaldate has visited Israel, Sri Lanka, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, U.S.A., U.K., U.S.S.R., Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Greece, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Mangolia and North Korea.

Presently, he is Vice President of Janata Dal (Secular).