New Delhi: I was in grade five and for the first time appeared for the handwriting contest held for the entire class. No shame to acknowledge that not only did I perform miserably but was also chided for having horrible handwriting. Oh yeah, every move for the next letter had smudged the ink making the handwriting contest more like a contest for abstract art. All this happened because I wrote the test with my left hand, being born a left-hander. Even years after this particular incident, I live with the pain and struggle of trying to survive in the right-hander’s world.Also Read - KBC 14, Episode 6, August 12 Highlights: Big B Begins Game Show as Satyanarayana Subbaraya From 'Play Along' Contest Joins Him

As a lefty who has been forced to use right-handed desks, it can only be imagined the extra effort and strength we lefties have to put in as we jot down notes while trying to maintain the balance to stay seated and decently on the desk. Also Read - Shah Rukh Khan's Stunning Cameo in Brahmastra go Viral, Jabra Fans Celebrate King Khan Turning Into Vanarastra - Check Tweets

We manage to adjust to the right-handed desk but there is another ordeal waiting for us. As soon as we start using the ink pens we realize that our left hand has an uncanny knack for attracting the colourful liquid, smudge as it is known. It further spoils the notebooks giving a beating to our grades. Maybe it was a disgruntled lefty who invented the gel pen? Also Read - Sachin Tendulkar Congratulates Indian Teams For Their Performance In Chess Olympiad 2022

Somehow, I spent a good number of sessions at the combat ranch and scored really well as I practiced several firearms, small to the big ones, and all of them are still designed for the right-handers as far as I am aware. And fewer people who are left-handed make it to the armed forces or other forces for the same reason.

Then back at home, it is the pair of scissors and peelers that are not friendly to left-handed people. Again, they are designed for the benefit of the righties.

I simply love music and always wanted to, still want to be an ace guitarist like my heroes Steve Stevens, Jimmy Page, and David Gilmour. I did not and do not have the patience to do a Jimi Hendrix or Sir Paul McCartney kind of modification to the six strings. But I had to settle for being the lead vocalist. You know why? Because most musical instruments, guitar too, are designed for right-handers.

August 13 has been designated International Left-Handers Day by Lefthanders International with the first one being observed on August 13, 1976. Left-handers Day Was Declared by The Left-Hander’s Day Club On August 13, 1997.

(We have collected this entire information after a thorough research work, going through many sources and after strict filtering, collected from very few sources and have not taken any liberty with the technical terms, timeline of events, and the facts. The credit lies completely with those sources; a big, big thanks to them! We want to convey the most accurate information to you just like we do every time. Your valuable feedback and comments are highly desirable. For the same, please write to the author at Email id: tahir.qureshi@india.com)

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Published Date: August 12, 2022 11:44 PM IST

Updated Date: August 13, 2022 1:09 AM IST

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