Shakuntala Devi

The Human Computer, A Prodigious Mind

Shakuntala Devi was a renowned Indian mathematician known for her extraordinary mental calculation abilities. Her incredible speed and accuracy in complex arithmetic problems earned her the nickname "the Human Computer." Born in 1929 in Bangalore, India, her talent was discovered at a young age by her father, who was a circus performer. He noticed her ability to memorize and solve numbers with ease while teaching her a card trick. From that moment on, he showcased her abilities, and she began to perform for audiences.

Unparalleled Mathematical Feats:

Shakuntala Devi's career as a mental calculator spanned decades, and she performed in universities, theatres, and television shows around the world. Her most famous achievements include:

• On June 18, 1980, she mentally multiplied two 13-digit numbers, 7,686,369,774,870 and 2,465,099,745,779, at Imperial College London. She provided the correct answer, 18,947,668,177,995,426,462,773,730, in just 28 seconds. This feat earned her a place in the 1982 edition of The Guinness Book of World Records.

• In 1977, she extracted the 23rd root of a 201-digit number in just 50 seconds, a calculation that took a UNIVAC 1101 computer 62 seconds to complete.

• She could instantly calculate the cube root of numbers, determine the day of the week for any given date in the last century, and solve other complex mathematical problems in her head.

The Human Computer, A Prodigious Mind

A Person of Many Talents:

Beyond her mathematical genius, Shakuntala Devi was a multifaceted individual. She was a published author, writing books on subjects ranging from mathematics and puzzles to astrology and cooking. Her 1977 book, The World of Homosexuals, was one of the first studies on homosexuality in India. She was also a talented astrologer, providing consultations to clients worldwide. She believed that her mind was a gift from God and used it to help others.

Legacy:

Shakuntala Devi’s life and work inspired millions, proving that the human mind holds extraordinary potential. She demystified mathematics for many people and showed that it could be a source of wonder and joy. She passed away in 2013, but her legacy as "the Human Computer" and a true one-in-a-million mind continues to live on.