The history of left-handedness is tinged with
misunderstanding and discrimination. Dating back to the 1600s, left-handed
people were maligned and often considered in league with the devil. These
baseless superstitions left an indelible mark, creating a lingering bias that
still influences attitudes today. While society has evolved, remnants of this
historical stigma occasionally surface, adding an emotional layer to the
challenges left-handers encounter.
“We are often called God-gifted but mostly considered the
direct descendants of the Devil,” said Namrata Kashyap, a landscape architect
and town planner.
Sandeep Vishnoi, founder of the Indian Left-Handers club
said, “Some of the major struggles that lefties have to go through are the
prejudices such as the belief that Hindus, Muslims, and Christians all
apparently agree that leading with your left hand is simply abhorrent.” He
adds, “A lot of times even the parents don’t encourage their children to use
the left dominant hand so to stand alongside lefties, we have started this
left-handers club.”
Originating from an era when left-handedness was unfairly
associated with evil forces, the journey for left-handed individuals has been
marked by historical hurdles. This celebration has transcended borders, finding
resonance across the globe.
From scissors to spiral notebooks, many everyday tools are
designed with right-handers in mind. This mundane inconvenience turns into a
daily struggle for left-handers who have to contort their hand movements to fit
into a world that wasn’t designed for them. Writing with ink can lead to
smudged pages, and using tools like can openers or a computer mouse can feel
awkward and uncomfortable. These subtle but constant adaptations can take a
toll on both physical comfort and self-esteem.
“One of my biggest struggles as a child was never having a
basic understanding of the functioning of devices and objects because they are
made as per right-hand users’ convenience,” said 21-year-old Shreya Pandey.
The classroom is possibly the first place where struggles
faced by left-handed individuals begin. Seating arrangements often favour
right-handed students, leading left-handers to elbow collisions with their
right-handed peers. In subjects like calligraphy or penmanship, left-handed
students may find it challenging to mimic the movements taught in class,
leading to feelings of frustration and inadequacy.
“Schools had single arms desks only right-handers and
left-handed people, like me had difficulties during exams,” said Vaibhav
Kumawat, based in Dabolim. “I have even known my friends being forced by their
parents to write with their right hand when they were naturally born
left-handed.”
Social gatherings and sports events aren’t immune to the
bias either. A simple handshake can turn into an awkward dance as left-handers
find themselves extending the ‘wrong’ hand. Especially in a society like
India’s, where using the left hand is considered ‘impure’ or ‘dirty.’
“Shopkeepers refused to accept money given to them with my
left hand and asked me to give with my right hand,” says Vaibhav. He adds,
“Even temple priests had a problem with people offering money with my left
hand.”
Even in the military, several technical equipments are
designed for the right hand – for instance, the military salute is right-handed
as in earlier times it was a way of showing that one possessed no weapon in the
dominant hand, which is generally the right hand. Many rifles are also
right-handed. This extends to many avenues, “When I used to fly, I had to keep
in mind that in case of an emergency, I had to use my right hand to pull out
the parachute,” says Ajay Yadav, a pilot.
In sports, equipment like golf clubs and baseball gloves may
not be readily available for left-handers, hampering their ability to fully
participate and excel in activities they’re passionate about. However, there
are also advantages to standing out when it comes to sports.
“While some sports were a little challenging like cricket, I
soon learned to use this gift to my advantage. Hand-wrestling in college often
got a walkover from the opponent team as they didn’t have a left-hander on
their team. Playing Volleyball on the net position invariably foxed the
opponent with left-handed shots,” says Namrata.
Many left-handers also take up a lot of ambidextrous qualities,
for instance, Ajay is a southpaw in every way but writing – he writes with his
right hand, despite being left-handed.
While strides have been made in recent years to acknowledge
the challenges faced by left-handers, there’s still much work to be done. The
design and availability of left-handed tools and equipment need to become more
commonplace, fostering inclusivity in daily life. Awareness campaigns like
International Left-handers Day play a crucial role in highlighting these
issues, encouraging discussions, and urging manufacturers and institutions to
consider the needs of left-handed individuals.
“What is important is a change in our country’s mindset,”
says Ajay. Along those lines, Vaibhav says, “Parents and kindergarten teachers
have the most important role to play here. It is under their guidance and
supervision that a child develops her or his skills.” He adds, “The onus is on
them to remove apprehensions and dispel myths or beliefs regarding
left-handers.”
Shreya says, “It might help to keep some options for
left-handed people, such as in single-seater chairs in schools, there should be
more left-handed options.” Namrata adds, “Left-handed women have struggled
enough with skirt zippers or buttons being on the wrong side and so we welcome
stretch pants and spandex skirts with open arms!”
In the tapestry of left-handed history, illustrious names
abound. Visionaries like Mother Teresa, Barack Obama, and Albert Einstein,
alongside creative geniuses like Walt Disney and Charlie Chaplin, are among the
proud left-handers who’ve left an indelible mark—the legacy they’ve built
stands as a testament to the remarkable contributions of left-handed
individuals throughout time.
Celebrating the uniqueness of the left-handers is also a
museum in Goa, in Loutolim, “We have numerous left-handed geniuses in various
fields who have contributed so much and continued to do so for the betterment
of our society,” says Sandeep, whose club is responsible for the presence of
the museum. “The Father of nation Mahatma Gandhi, Rani Laxmi bai, Amitabh
Bachchan, and many more – and so, to honour these personalities I decided to
launch this museum in Goa, which is a beautiful state on its own.”