I was inspired to write on handshake because most of my colleagues provoked me through their unhygienic habits especially one of them. They have intensely bad sanitation manner. It proves that academics never give you the education towards hygiene routine. Well, it only comes from meaningful cleanliness at home by parents or guardians. Won’t you be irked if you happen to see a person touching the dust-bin and then give hands to hair? Also, if you spot someone drilling nose with fingers and then use the same fingers come in contact with anything? Do not wash hands before consuming food? Have sweets but do not clean hands afterwards, further continue with their work? Endless unacceptable habit is practiced throughout and this must be controlled.
Handshake is used since ages. It is an ancient culture date back to more than 2000 years ago when people used it as a peaceful gesture to show they weren’t armed. It is the globally widespread brief greeting or parting tradition. Although, it is the most common way to greet someone but not the only way to say hello.
Different ways of greeting varies with culture. Japanese Bow, Indians perform Namaste with their hands pressed, New Zealand greeting is Hongi – by pressing nose and forehead to one another, Russians do firm Handshake, Tibet has unique way to greet by tongue sticking out, French kiss on cheeks, Thailand way to address is Wai – press palms together and bow so that thumb touches the chin and fingertips touches the forehead, Nigerians receive snapping fingers handshake – snap fingers in the process of a handshake. Above all I mentioned, Japanese and Indian way of hello is physically untouched so far. People avoid handshake due to religious reasons in Islamic and observant orthodox Jew countries. These certain faiths find it offensive and unacceptable shaking hands with the opposite sex. But if we see it in a positive way then it do not result in the transmission of germs because the greet is without any physical contact. Now this is most crucial.
Handshake practice transfers ten times more bacteria. You never know the person you shake hands with if they are clean – washed properly and sanitized. When I say washed properly I mean it, at least twenty seconds with lather formation. Many deadly virus occurs because of unclean habits and then transfers by touch. During these covid19 days people are awaken of hygiene and they must be educated further. Still I have seen not many people follow WHO guidelines. In my office before lockdown, some morons in spite of coronavirus outbreak foolishly extend hand for handshake. I refuse all the time. I have never liked handshake even before corona started. I personally find it invasion into my cleanliness. And how is it possible to shake hands with those people who I have seen living with poor sanitation. And no one use to wear masks except me. They took it casually. And now they know what they are dealing with, in fact the whole world is suffering.
I believe every office, in India especially and worldwide should be given a proper session on daily hygiene at work. A strict surprise check should be conducted three to four times a month or more to check the implementation. A quality audit is needed and the person who does not follow should come under discipline violation. They must be given a strict reprimand in form of some cleaning work.
Handshake is considered a professional behavior in business. If you shake hands you are considered professional. But I believe as it is man made like other useless customs and traditions it can be eradicated in the interest of human health. Why to acquire such practice which becomes a serious threat to human well-being? Many people find that if hand shake is out of fashion then what else, which way! Well, there are many ways to greet. One can verbally say ‘Hello’ or ‘Hi’ or ‘Good morning/afternoon/evening’. In a survey it was found that 3 in 4 people in UK want a total ban on physical contact at work. There are other reasons physical contact in workplace should be avoided as it can trigger sexual harassment. My topmost reason not to handshake is in the interest of hygiene.
*No handshake dilemma- Thank you, for not shaking hands.*
Mahjabeen KHAN 