A handshake says it all

'Come on, shake hands.' How often have we heard that phrase from childhood? Yes, even after a small fight, our parents taught us to forget and forgive, to dust off the bad energy. A handshake was accompanied by smiles and even a hug. Each one of these actions conveyed deep meaning.

In good old days, it was about friendship, a kind of assurance that you meant no harm when shaking hands with a person perceived as an enemy.

There are symbols and 'smilies' that have pervaded our lives through social media. The handshake in this method, too, conveys warmth and a sense of bonding, even though the message may have come from another person thousands of miles away.


The younger generation is more comfortable with communication on chat; the handshake symbol still carries deep meaning. Sample this: you may have met someone on a flight, or in a waiting lounge at the airport. The old way of sharing business cards is fading away. What has come: a quick exchange of mobile numbers, followed by 'chats' exchanged as text and symbols. If there is a handshake, then you could treat it as a good sign.

When politicians meet, the handshake is important. A whole conversation can be spun around it, in times when the world is fragmented. In the world of sports, handshake is a sign; let's forget what happened in a match. There is no winner or loser, the handshake is an assurance, what happened in sport is history. Move on, be friends.