A lefty in India
 

I will be traveling to India for the first time next year visiting Jaipur and New Delhi. I'm slightly worried about the fact that I'm left handed. I will try to go righty, but I'm afraid I may relax and forget and... well, will people flip out if they see me using my left hand, especially while eating??? Are there any others out there who have had any problems in India because they are southpaws? Thanks!

Not a clue, xinghuo, sorry - but let me tell you the title of your post confused me no end - my first reaction was that your politics shouldn't present a problem at all.

Your question caught my attention because I live in Indonesia and the same applies here - the left hand is considered dirty, so I do my best to use my right when I pay for purchases, hand items to people, etc. I never realized how much I used my left hand until I tried to not use it!

I found this info online and thought it might help somewhat:

Left hand right hand - A very important, yet subtle, factor in India is avoiding the use of your left hand when interacting with others. In India, you use your left hand to clean yourself after using the toilet so it has extremely negative associations. ALWAYS give and receive anything with your right hand, or at least with both hands together. If you give change, accept something, or eat something with your left hand, it will be noticed, though politely not commented on. Using your right hand only is one of the easiest things for Westerners to forget to do, but it makes a difference. A friend who has been coming to India for more than a decade, but only recently made it a point to only use his right hand, said he really noticed how much people appreciated him making an attempt. It may mean a bit of extra effort at first, but it will be appreciated, and will soon become automatic. Even if you are left handed, try and adjust as much as possible.

http://www.indax.com/trculture.html

Good luck!

I would imagine that in a country of over 1.1 billion people there are quite a few lefties so the sight should not be uncommon.

My Husband is a lefty. We spent a month travelling in India and he has been for business and has never noticed any problems. He did try ot do all deallings with others with his right hand but I am sure he slipped at times. Like anything being sensitvie to your surroundings will help greatly.

Have a wonderful trip.
J

i also am left handed...i will not give it one thought....i will use my left hand as i normally do and they will not care..

I am a lefty and have been to India..No problems..I couldn't even tell you if i used my left or right hand when i ate..I just did everything as normal..Nobody said a word!! Don't worry!!

My brother is a lefty and he said that if you are in an area where they are used to western visitors/tourists, it would not be a problem. He teaches at a school in a v rural area where visitors of non-Indian descent are rare and if he said if someone uses their left hand here, it is the talk of the town :) He should know as he did (inadvertently) and it got back via a long chain of conversations to the mother of the family he is staying with!

My daugher is not a lefty, but she uses both hands to eat, and does a lot of picking at her food with her fingers.

It was not an issue in the hotels. I'm sure the waiters there see it all the time.

Twice though, we got a reminder that left hands are not polite. The first time, we were having lunch in a local place on the Agra-Delhi road. I looked off to the side and noticed one waiter was watching her discretely, but looking horrified.

A few minutes later, all the waiters were watching. I told her to put her hand under her hip and sit on it, as she was obviously grossing them out!

Another time, I handed a credit card to a cashier with my left hand. There was a bit of a pause, in which I realized he didn't want to take it. I set it down on the counter and all was fine. When I handed back the signed charge slip, I used my right hand and he took it from my hand. It was all very subtle, but clear.

Thanks to everyone who took time to post replies! Your advice and info is a big comfort. I never thought being a lefty in India would be too big of a deal, but still, hearing from those with direct experience is a great reassurance.

BTW, to Mr Oz, I suppose I COULD be described as something of a political lefty, too. :o)

A persecuted minority on both counts, xinghuo! Good luck in India.