Shakuntala Devi, a name synonymous with mathematical genius, was an Indian writer and prodigy. Her unparalleled ability to perform complex calculations mentally earned her global recognition and the title “Human-Computer”. This blog post delves into the fascinating life and achievements of this extraordinary individual.

Wiki/Biography

Born on Monday, November 4, 1929, in Bengaluru, Shakuntala Devi’s zodiac sign was Scorpio. Her early life was marked by a lack of formal education due to her family’s difficult circumstances. However, this didn’t hinder her innate mathematical talent. At just three years old, she displayed remarkable aptitude for numbers, progressing to calculate cube roots by the age of five. Her father, recognizing her exceptional gift, utilized her abilities in public demonstrations, launching her into the spotlight.

Her talents quickly garnered attention. By the age of six, she was showcasing her skills at prestigious universities across southern India, including the University of Mysore, Annamalai University, Osmania University, and the universities of Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. This led to international recognition in 1944, propelling her and her father to London.

Death

Shakuntala Devi passed away on April 21, 2013, at the age of 83, succumbing to respiratory, heart, and kidney complications.

Physical Appearance

• Hair Colour: Black
• Eye Colour: Black

Family, Caste & Husband

Shakuntala Devi hailed from an orthodox Kannada Brahmin family. Her father was a circus performer, a stark contrast to their family’s priestly heritage. Details about her mother and siblings remain scarce. In 1960, she married Paritosh Banerjee, an Indian Administrative Service officer from Kolkata. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1979. Together, they had a daughter, Anupama Banerjee.

Career

From 1944 onwards, Shakuntala Devi’s international fame grew, taking her across the globe to countries including the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Sri Lanka, Italy, Canada, Russia, France, Spain, Mauritius, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Her astounding mathematical feats consistently captivated audiences.

One of her most celebrated achievements involved multiplying two 13-digit numbers – 7,686,369,774,870 × 2,465,099,745,779 – correctly within a mere 28 seconds. This remarkable feat secured her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1982.

Her skills extended beyond quick calculations. At Southern Methodist University in Dallas, she calculated the 23rd root of a 201-digit number in just 50 seconds – a task that took a professor four minutes to write and a Univac computer over a minute to solve.

Beyond mathematics, Shakuntala Devi was a prolific writer, authoring books on astrology, mathematics for children, puzzles, cookbooks, and novels. Her 1977 book, “The World of Homosexuals,” stands out as a pioneering work on homosexuality in India. She was also a dedicated philanthropist, establishing the Shakuntala Devi Education Foundation Public Trust to provide education to underprivileged children.

Controversy

Shakuntala Devi’s practice of astrology and future predictions drew criticism from Shyam Manav, a social reformer and rationalist. An FIR was filed against her in 1985 concerning her predictive practices.

Awards & Honours

• Most Distinguished Woman Of The Year by the University of Philippines (1969)
• Ramanujan Mathematical Genius Award in Washington D.C (1988)
• Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)

Facts/Trivia

Shakuntala Devi’s life was full of interesting details. Her father’s career as a circus performer was a significant part of her early life and introduction to the world. A Google Doodle honored her on her 84th birthday in 2013. Her abilities were studied extensively by Arthur Jensen, a psychology professor from the University of California, Berkeley. A widely circulated anecdote tells of her appearance on a BBC show where her correct solution to a complex math problem was initially doubted by the host and his team, only to later be confirmed.

Further Information

Here’s a summary of key details about Shakuntala Devi’s life: