The coastal city of Mangalore that saw the birth of Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) in 2001 also witnessed its growth among the minority communities aided by a few ‘progressive thinkers’.
It rose in districts like Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and in Kasargod (in Kerala) among the youth in minority and backward communities and dalits as a platform for equality and justice.
It made an impact in the coastal districts particularly in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada as the membership drives showed great strides in colleges, institutes and social groups. It also permeated into the dalits and backward communities, nurtured by ‘progressive thinkers and writers’ like KL Ashok, Prasanna and Sri Rama Dewana.
The KFD did stare in the faces of the fringe groups of the Left parties, Congress and Janata Dal as the workers of these groups belonging to the parties had taken up part-time work with KFD.
The ideology of the KFD was to create a non-political, social base for the youth from backward communities, dalits and minorities.
But after the crackdown on Simi (Students Islamic Movement of India) by the government, KFD decided to merge with the Kerala-based political outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) with a slightly modified ideology on a political platform, on November 22, 2006.
The KFD, when independent, had organised a rally in Bangalore to protest against the attacks on minorities in Mangalore.
