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On August 13, International Left-Handers Day celebrates the uniqueness, creativity, and achievements of left-handed people, while raising awareness of their challenges.
International Left-Handers Day 2025: Bollywood actors and father-son duo Abhishek Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan are left-handed. (Image: AP)
International Left-Handers Day 2025 Date, History: International Left-Handers Day, on August 13, celebrates the uniqueness and talents of left-handed individuals who navigate a predominantly right-handed world. This day aims to raise awareness about the challenges left-handers face while also acknowledging their achievements and encouraging greater inclusivity and understanding.
International Left-Handers Day History
International Left-Handers Day was first celebrated in 1976, thanks to Dean R. Campbell, the founder of the Left-Handers Club. The day was created to highlight the challenges and experiences of left-handed people living in a world designed mostly for right-handers.
Its purpose is to confront the historical biases and misconceptions surrounding left-handedness while also honoring the distinctive talents and viewpoints that left-handers contribute across different areas of life.
Interesting Facts About Left-Handed People
- The human brain operates in a cross-wired manner, with the right hemisphere controlling the left side of the body and vice versa.
- Studies have shown that in left-handed people, the connections between the two brain hemispheres tend to be stronger and more efficient, especially in areas related to language and coordination.
- It is commonly believed that left-handed individuals are more creative and possess greater artistic or musical abilities, though scientific evidence to fully support this is still limited.
- In sports, left-handers often hold a competitive edge, particularly in one-on-one scenarios.
- Games such as tennis, boxing, fencing and baseball frequently see left-handed players outperform their right-handed counterparts, likely because most opponents are less accustomed to facing lefties.
- Left-handed people may recover more quickly from strokes.
- Since language functions are largely managed by the left hemisphere of the brain, which is more heavily utilised by right-handed individuals, lefties might have an advantage in rewiring language centers following a stroke.
- Historically, left-handedness has been misunderstood and stigmatised. Across many cultures, being left-handed was once considered unlucky or even sinister, a perception that gave rise to the word “sinister,” derived from Latin, meaning “left.”
- During the Middle Ages in Britain, left-handers were sometimes linked to evil or witchcraft, facing severe persecution. Thankfully, such beliefs have long faded, but some everyday challenges remain.
- Lefties often struggle with tools and objects designed for right-handed users, such as scissors, spiral notebooks, can openers and even musical instruments like the guitar.
Famous Left-Handed Personalities
Several prominent leaders have been left-handed, including former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
In the United Kingdom, notable lefties include ex-Prime Minister David Cameron and the iconic wartime leader Winston Churchill.
PHOTOS: International Left Handers Day: Famous People You Might Not Know were Lefties
The future King of the United Kingdom, Prince William, is also naturally left-handed.
Interestingly, his great-grandfather, King George VI, was left-handed too but was forced to write with his right hand by his father, King George V.
In the world of music and entertainment, left-handed celebrities include pop star Justin Bieber, who initially tried playing a right-handed guitar upside down, facing quite a challenge.
Other famous lefties include media mogul Oprah Winfrey, legendary musician Sir Paul McCartney, singer Lady Gaga and actress Jennifer Lawrence.
From Bollywood, notable left-handed stars include Amitabh Bachchan, Aditya Roy Kapur and Sonakshi Sinha, showcasing the diversity of talent among left-handed individuals worldwide.
Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te…Read More
Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te… Read More
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