Shakuntala Devi

1) Life History:
A mathematical prodigy, also known as the 'human computer', Shakuntala Devi was known for her
complex problem-solving skills without the aid of any mechanical device. During her early years, she
shot to fame by mentally calculating one of the toughest mathematical multiplications 10 seconds
before the fastest and the most efficient computer of the time.
Shakuntala Devi was born on November 4, 1929 in Bengaluru to an orthodox, Brahmin Kannadiga
family. Her father refused to become a priest and instead, wanted to entertain others as a tight-rope
walker. He thus became a circus artist and 3-year-old Shakuntala used to accompany him to the
circus and often come back mesmerized with her father's performances. It was he who eventually int
roduced her to the world of mathematics and taught her interesting card tricks that initiated her love
for numbers.
2) Education:
At the age of 3, her father left the circus and took her on road shows that displayed her ability at
calculation. She did this without any formal education. At the age of six, she demonstrated her
arithmetic abilities at the University of Mysore.
In 1944, Devi moved to London with her father.
Devi traveled the world demonstrating her arithmetic talents, including a tour of Europe in 1950 and
a performance in New York City in 1976. In 1988, she travelled to the US to have her abilities studied
by Arthur Jensen, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. Jensen tested
her performance of several tasks, including the calculation of large numbers. Examples of the
problems presented to Devi included calculating the cube root of 61,629,875 and the seventh root of
170,859,375.Jensen reported that Devi provided the solution to the above mentioned problems (395
and 15, respectively) before Jensen could copy them down in his notebook.Jensen published his
findings in the academic journal Intelligence in 1990.
In 1977, at Southern Methodist University, she gave the 23rd root of a 201-digit number in 50
seconds. Her answer546,372,891was confirmed by calculations done at the US Bureau of
Standards by the UNIVAC 1101 computer, for which a special program had to be written to perform
such a large calculation.
On 18 June 1980, she demonstrated the multiplication of two 13-digit numbers7,686,369,774,870
2,465,099,745,779picked at random by the Computer Department of Imperial College London.
She correctly answered 18,947,668,177,995,426,462,773,730 in 28 seconds. This event was
recorded in the 1982 Guinness Book of Records. Writer Steven Smith said, "the result is so far
superior to anything previously reported that it can only be described as unbelievable".

3) Contribution:
In the year 1977, Shakuntala Devi mentally solved the 23rd root of a 201 digit number without
any help from mechanical aid. In 1980, 18th June she solved the multiplication of 13 digit
number 7,686,369,774,870 and 2,465,099,745,779 picked up by the computer science
department of imperial college, London. Shakuntala solved the question in a flash and took 28
seconds to solve the entire problem, and her answer was 18,947,668,177,995,426,462,773,730.
This amazing incident helped her get a place in the Guinness book of world record. She has
been travelling around the globe performing for the student community, Prime Ministers,
Presidents, Politicians and Educationalists.

Puzzles to Puzzle You' is considered one of Shakuntala Devi's best works for aspiring and
budding mathematicians. Critics have rated this book as one of the best reads for people who
want to excel in the field of mathematics and master the secrets of the subject. A book meant
for starters, this publication sold over 6,000 copies in its first week and continues to be an
inspiration for many.
Perfect Murder', authored by this mathematical wizard, is the tale of a successful lawyerturned-killer and is regarded as a fine work of fiction. Translated in a few regional languages,
'Perfect Murder' put her in the spotlight for her literary abilities as well.
The World of Homosexuals', published in 1977, went almost unnoticed in the beginning
due to its bold content and the country's inhospitable outlook to such a controversial issue.
However, with the onset of a new cultural wave, the book soon began to gather some
attention and was included in the 'Top 100 books by Indian authors' in 2005.
4) Application:
Not only was she a genius & mathematical magician but also a role model for
students and math enthusiasts. She played a great role in making mathematics an
interesting subject for millions of students due to her practical, fast & efficient
approach towards problem solving. She had authored several books for children to
help them develop interest in maths and help them understand the subject better.

Her books on puzzles are popular among college students preparing for jobs
interviews which require analytical skills.
Her workshops on maths techniques & vedic mathematics were popular throughout the
nation. On the social front, she started Shakuntala Devi Education Foundation Public
Trust with a mission to provide quality education for children of deprived sections of
the society. Also, she encouraged research in Vedic mathematics and helped spread
global awareness about Indias contribution towards mathematics.
She was a math evangelist, human computer, social worker & role model, and India is
indeed proud to be home to such an inspirational personality.
5) Appreciation:
Shakuntala Devi went for tours around the world through the 50s and performed in a number of
institutions, theaters and even appeared on television. On September 27, 1973, she appeared on
the BBC show, 'Nationwide' with the popular Bob Wellings, who was stunned when she managed
give the right answers to all the mathematical questions that he bombarded her with. Gradually, her
skills and her fan-following grew substantially. In 1977, she received a standing ovation from an
audience of erudite mathematicians, when she gave the answer of the 23rd root of a 201-digit
number in 50 seconds. The most powerful computer at the time, took exactly 62 seconds. Unlike
many other child prodigies, her mathematical skills did not wane in her teenage and adult years.
Back home, word spread that a young girl captivated audiences with her adept mathematical skills
and Devi soon became extremely famous in India as well. Thereafter, she was invited to the Imperial
College, London, on June 18, 1980, where she answered a challenging problem in just a few
seconds leaving the audience baffled. The fame of this 16-year-old whiz-kid grew manifold when she
beat one of the world's fastest computers by 10 seconds, while multiplying two 13-digit numbers in
28 seconds.

Shakuntala Devi won the 'Distinguished Woman of the Year Award' in 1969, from the
University of Philippines along with a gold medal.
In 1988, she was honored with the 'Ramanujan Mathematical Genius Award' in Washington
D.C., conferred to her by the-then Indian Ambassador to US.
Her name was listed in the '1995 Guinness Book of World Records' edition for her
outstanding mathematical feat where she beat the world's fastest computer at multiplying two
thirteen digit numbers.

A month before her death, she was honored with the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' in
Mumbai, in 2013.

6) Collection:
In the year 1977, Shakuntala Devi mentally solved the 23rd root of a 201 digit number without
any help from mechanical aid. In 1980, 18th June she solved the multiplication of 13 digit
number 7,686,369,774,870 and 2,465,099,745,779 picked up by the computer science
department of imperial college, London. Shakuntala solved the question in a flash and took 28
seconds to solve the entire problem, and her answer was 18,947,668,177,995,426,462,773,730.
This amazing incident helped her get a place in the Guinness book of world record. She has been
travelling around the globe performing for the student community, Prime Ministers, Presidents,
Politicians and Educationalists.
Shakuntala Devi has authored a few books. She shares some of the methods of mental
calculations in her world famous books. Some of her books include:

Astrology for You (New Delhi: Orient, 2005). ISBN 978-81-222-0067-6

Book of Numbers (New Delhi: Orient, 2006). ISBN 978-81-222-0006-5

Figuring: The Joy of Numbers (New York: Harper & Row, 1977), ISBN 978-0-06-0110697, OCLC 4228589

In the Wonderland of Numbers (New Delhi: Orient, 2006). ISBN 978-81-222-0399-8

Mathability: Awaken the Math Genius in Your Child (New Delhi: Orient, 2005). ISBN 978-81222-0316-5

More Puzzles to Puzzle You (New Delhi: Orient, 2006). ISBN 978-81-222-0048-5

Perfect Murder (New Delhi: Orient, 1976), OCLC 3432320

Puzzles to Puzzle You (New Delhi: Orient, 2005). ISBN 978-81-222-0014-0

Super Memory: It Can Be Yours (New Delhi: Orient, 2011). ISBN 978-81-222-0507-7;
(Sydney: New Holland, 2012). ISBN 978-1-74257-240-6, OCLC 781171515

The World of Homosexuals (Vikas Publishing House, 1977), ISBN 978-0706904789[12][21]

10) Overall Impression:

Shakuntala Devi is best remembered for demonstrating the multiplication of two randomly picked 13digit numbers7,686,369,774,870 2,465,099,745,779 on 18 June 1980. She correctly gave the
answer as 18,947,668,177,995,426,462,773,730 in 28 seconds. This unbelievable feat of hers
earned her a place in the Guinness Book of Records in 1982.