Pressures of being left-handed

There is a common belief among people that using left hand is inauspicious and some even consider it as a bad gesture. Accepting or giving things using left hand is prohibited in many houses. When parents see their child using left hand for writing or for any other purpose in his or her formative years, they start instructing the child to use right hand.

Science states that there is no harm in using any of the hands as the hand preference is a natural factor associated with genetic design. But the cultural pressure overrides science in the case of left-handedness and these people are compelled to discontinue their habit.

Niveda, a left-handed girl, says her grandmother believes being left-handed is unholy.
“I used to prefer my left hand for all my work, including eating. My grandmother opposed it and she insisted that I change my preference, which I could not do. Thankfully, my father came to my rescue and he convinced his mother. Now I use my left hand to play carom, table tennis, to write and to make ‘rangoli’,” says Niveda.

At the same time, she has difficulties using her favoured hand. “I am uncomfortable using kitchen knives and computer mouse, which are designed for right-handed people. I have to take extra effort to use tools like scissors and bike gears,” Niveda adds.
But some children are made to change their habit by force, like Mandira.
“When I started writing with my left hand, my mother did not like it. Finally, she made me a right-handed person against my will. I don’t know why people prefer right hand when left hand too has equal ability and craftsmanship.”

But, there are people who believe left-handedness as a sign of luck and prosperity. “My left-handedness was not an issue in my house. Even my father uses left hand sometimes. They consider us as lucky people. There is also a notion that left-handed people are brilliant than others. Anyway, I am happy with my rare habit,” says Mamata, a BBM student at NMKRV College.

Kavyashri faced strong opposition from her family members, who insisted that she  changed her preference. “My father and sister, both were left-handed, but they became right-handed by choice. But I left for my uncle’s house for my education at an early age. My uncle was liberal and encouraged me to continue with my preference,” says Kavyashri.

“The only problem I faced because of my left handedness was at the lecture hall, where chairs have writing surfaces on the right-hand side,” she adds.