There’s a certain type of anxiety I get when I eat in
public. In India, people generally do
not use silverware, and it is customary to eat with the right hand. The use of the left-hand to perform certain
actions like eating or giving money is considered taboo. From an anthropological standpoint, this concept
serves both religious and social norms in Indian society. In relation to ancient Hindu belief,
right-handedness is associated with the sahaj
/dakshin marg, or the yogic way – essentially the light path. While left-handedness is associated with the vaam marg, or the path of the Aghori –
essentially the dark path. (Think of
Star Wars for a serious simplification). Children are taught from an early age to
write, eat, and perform every activity with the right hand. It is rare in Indian society to find a
left-hander.
But the left-hand taboo isn’t all about religion, at least
according to my best attempt at understanding this behavior. The need to eat right-handed is primarily influenced
by the need to maintain proper hygiene.
Due to other factors I need not discuss here, Indians don’t use toilet
paper when they go to the bathroom; they use water. Now to an American, this act may be
considered perplexing if not downright insane. (I just happen to know an Indian
who will defend to the death the advantages of using water). Judgments aside, wiping oneself is done with
the left hand. Thus, for sanitary
reasons, it’s essential to eat with the right hand.
As a left-hander myself, I find it difficult to abide by the
right-hander rule in India. I can
adequately feed myself with my right hand, but using a cutlery is a lot easier
that making spoons out of rotis
(wheat bread) or using your thumb as a sort of food forklift. Whenever I am at a special function like a puja, I will consciously eat only with
my right hand, as a sign of my utmost respect and understanding of the taboo. However, eating dosa at a stand-and-eat restaurant where the ultimate goal is to
consume your food as fast as possible and move aside for the next dozen people
to do the same is not where I want to practice my ambidexterity. For the sake of avoiding any further bouts of
food poisoning on my part, and the desire to actually enjoy a meal, my husband
and I typically eat only in the enclosed, we-have-seats-for-you
restaurants. Even in these places
though, I feel somewhat perturbed by the left / right hander dilemma. I am after all, a proud leftie, and I do
prefer to eat with some semblance of sophistication, even if I am eating with
my hand. But people don’t know that, nor
do they care that I am one of the rare lefties.
As a white woman in India, my skin apparently screams “look at me!!” (Sounds
vain but it's true). Thus, my act of
eating with my tabooed and dirty left hand is put on display for all to
witness. All I think that they are
thinking is that I am eating with my ass-wiping hand, committing a social faux
pas, and bypassing all rules of sanitary behavior. It all reminds me of this stupid joke told to
me long ago. Someone asks you what hand
you use to wipe your ass. After you
reply and return their question, they, so quick-witted, tell you neither, they use toilet paper.
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