International Left Handers Day

International Left Handers Day Information

International Left Handers Day is an international day observed annually on August 13 to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of the left handers. The day was first observed in 1976 by Dean R. Campbell, founder of the Lefthanders International, Inc.

International Left Hander’s Day was created to celebrate sinistrality and raise awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed in a predominantly right-handed world. It celebrates left-handed people’s uniqueness and differences, a subset of humanity comprising seven to ten percent of the world’s population. The day also spread awareness on issues faced by left-handers e.g. the importance of the special needs for left-handed children, and the likelihood for left-handers to develop schizophrenia. There are approximately 708 million left-handed people in the world. Men are more likely to be left handed than women.

Left-Handers Day History

On 13th August 1992 the Club launched International Left-Handers Day, an annual event when left-handers everywhere can celebrate their sinistrality and increase public awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed. This event is now celebrated worldwide, and in the U.K. alone there have been more than 20 regional events to mark the day in recent years – including left-v-right sports matches, a left-handed tea party, pubs using left-handed corkscrews where patrons drank and played pub games with the left hand only, and nationwide “Lefty Zones” where left-handers creativity, adaptability and sporting prowess were celebrated, whilst right-handers were encouraged to try out everyday left-handed objects to see just how awkward it can feel using the wrong equipment!

These events have contributed more than anything else to the general awareness of the difficulties and frustrations left-handers experience in everyday life, and have successfully led to improved product design and greater consideration of our needs by the right-handed majority – although there is still a long way to go!

Famous Left-Handers

Left-Handed U.S. Presidents:

Famous left-handers in Sports:

  • Rafael Nadal – Tennis
  • Pele – Football
  • Diego Maradona – Football
  • Mesut Özil – Football.
  • Goran Ivanisevic – Tennis
  • Phil Mickelson – Golf
  • Babe Ruth – Baseball
  • Timo Boll – Handball

Indian celebs who are left-handed:

  • Amitabh Bachchan: Known as the ‘shahenshah‘ of the Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan is one of the famous left-handers in the world. In fact, his son Abhishek Bachchan is also left-handed.
  • Sachin Tendulkar: Ace cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who has impressed the world with his skills, is another famous left-handed personality.
  • Narendra Modi: Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi is another famous celebrity who is left-handed. While he uses right hand for writing, he is seen using his left hand for eating and playing.
  • Ratan Tata: Famous Industrialist Ratan Tata is another celebrity who is left hander. In fact, till 2015, Tata’s trusts would even give scholarships to the Indian Left-Hander Club.
  • Karan Johar: Bollywood director and producer Karan Johar has been a successful personality ever since he entered Bollywood. He is another proud left-handed celebrity.

Check Also

World Forestry Day - 21st March

World Forestry Day Info: History, Theme, Cards, Banners & Photos

World Forestry Day or International Day of Forests is celebrated worldwide every year on 21st …