Early Life

Born in Mangalore on May 20, 1983, Muhammad Riyaz, later known as Riyaz Farangipete, is the eldest son of J. Chaibavu from Jeppu, Mangalore, and Fatima from Farangipete. His childhood in his mother’s hometown of Farangipete influenced his popular name.

In 2007, Riyaz married Shamima from Mulki, and they have two daughters, Fatimat Rifai and Fatimath Rizma.

Education

Riyaz attended primary school at Syrian Mission High School in Mangalore. He completed his high school education at Saint Joseph’s High School, Kankanady, graduating in 1998. He then went on to study at Milagres Pre-University College in Mangalore, finishing in 2000.

Career and Social Life

Riyaz began his career in 2001 as a document writer at the Taluk office in Mangalore. He later ventured into the building construction business and is now involved in the plywood and real estate sectors.

Throughout his career, Riyaz has been active in various organizations. In 2002, he joined the Karnataka Forum for Dignity. The following year, he became a member of the Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Shakti Taluk Committee. He was the founding president of Nashatuddin Youth Federation in 2004. Riyaz served as a state committee member of the Popular Front of India in 2012 and has been involved with the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) since 2016. His roles in SDPI have included State Secretary, State General Secretary from 2018, and National Committee member from 2020. He has been the National Secretary of SDPI since 2021.

Mentored by the late KM Sheriff Saab, a prominent figure opposing the Sangh Parivar in Dakshina Kannada district, Riyaz Farangipete has dedicated himself to continuous public service and social struggles since joining the Karnataka Forum for Dignity. His extensive experience in human rights work includes serving on the fact-finding committee for Mangalore’s Baby Nirbhaya case.

Riyaz has led various significant movements, including the Thumbay vented dam struggle. He met and consoled the mother of Hyderabad University student Rohit Vemula after his tragic death and actively participated in the related protests. Riyaz opposed the AMR project in Bantwala, successfully securing relief for affected victims. His persistent efforts in Sundara Malekudia’s Dalit hand amputation case resulted in the government covering medical expenses and arresting the perpetrators. He also prepared a fact-finding report for the case of the Bantwala police desecrating the Quran.

Riyaz has aided individuals in distress abroad, such as freeing Vijaya from Vamanjur and Sukumar from Bondala near Kalladka. He demonstrated leadership during the siege at the Commissioner’s office in Mangalore’s Qureshi case and collaborated with Jignesh Mevani and Bhaskar Prasad in the Tumkur Chalo program.

During the CAA NRC protests, Riyaz faced a false treason charge and was banned from speaking in Dakshina Kannada district. Undeterred, he travelled across the state, advocating for the cause. He maintains strong ties with nearly all social organizations in Dakshina Kannada district. Additionally, Riyaz supports cancer patients, sponsors marriages for poor girls, and engages in various other public service activities through his donations, making him a notable figure in his community.

After the establishment of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in 2009, Riyaz Farangipete entered the political arena, focusing on creating political awareness at the grassroots level. He began as a booth-level leader and steadily rose through the ranks, serving as field committee secretary, district general secretary, state secretary, state general secretary, and finally, national secretary.

In the 2016 Zilla Panchayat elections, Riyaz contested from the Pudu Zilla Panchayat constituency, earning an impressive 4,367 votes. In 2018, he filed nomination papers to contest the Bantwal assembly constituency elections but strategically withdrew to counter fascist ideologies. By 2023, he contested from the Mangalore assembly constituency as an SDPI candidate and garnered 15,054 votes, drawing widespread attention.

Riyaz is a prominent figure in the media, participating in over 150 TV debates where he has fearlessly highlighted the terrorist activities of the Sangh Parivar. He frequently issues press releases on behalf of the oppressed and has engaged in press conferences with various organizations to address social concerns. His activism has led to multiple cases being registered against him for criticizing the Sangh Parivar, delivering speeches, and protesting against the wrongful arrests of innocent people.

Known for his friendly nature, Riyaz is also a supporter of athletes and sports. For the past 23 years, he has dedicated a portion of his earnings to public service, earning him recognition as a people person committed to both political and social struggles.