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Shakuntala Devi Biography
Shakuntala Devi, famously known as the Human Computer, was an Indian genius in mathematics, an educator, and an author. She was born on November 4, 1929 in Bangalore, India. She displayed her phenomenal mathematical skills at a very young age— able to do complicated calculations mentally with amazing speed and precision.
She had a passion for advocating mathematics education and travelled all over the world to exhibit her extraordinary talent through public shows and lectures. Her skill in solving intricate mathematical problems made her famous globally— winning admiration from many people who came across her work. Devi demonstrated talent in mathematics as well as being an author who produced works on mathematics, puzzles, and astrology. Her book “Figuring: The Joy of Numbers” is still considered a classic work in this field.
Shakuntala Devi Images
Shakuntala Devi: Birth and Early Life
Shakuntala Devi was born on November 4, 1929, in Bangalore, Karnataka. Shakuntala Devi father was trained as a temple priest but found his true calling in the circus as a performer of various daring acts including trapeze artist, lion tamer, and tightrope walker.
It was during her tender age of 3 that Shakuntala’s extraordinary knack for remembering numbers came to light while her father tried to teach her a card trick; he paraded her abilities to the public without delay by strolling down the streets with her. Unveiling herself before formal education at six years old when she stunned onlookers with her mathematical wizardry at the University of Mysore signified only the beginning; in 1944 she left for London with him.
Shakuntala Devi: Personal Life
After returning to India in 1960, Shakuntala Devi married IAS officer Paritosh Banerji. They divorced in the year 1979. In 1980, Devi contested the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from south Bombay and Medak. He fought against Indira Gandhi in Medak but lost the election. Apart from her passion for mathematics, Devi is a successful astrologer and author of many books.
Shakuntala Devi Contribution to Mathematics
As an exceptionally talented human, her contribution came out of her love and fascination with mathematics. Her ability to mentally perform complex mathematical calculations at extraordinarily fast translates to her being a ‘human computer’.
Devi’s success in mental arithmetic and her powerful Christmas lecture drew attention to the need to teach mathematics. It inspired thousands of others to study the subject. Devi continues to this day to present lectures and demonstrations of her mathematical prowess to popular audiences.
She has also written numerous books on mathematics, puzzles and astrology, her goal being: ‘To give the pleasure of numbers and problem solving.’ Her most recent book, Calculation: The Joy of Numbers, continues to stimulate the same excitement.
Moreover, Shakuntala Devi efforts to promote mathematics education were not confined to her own success. She argued for us all to develop ‘mathematical literacy’, whether child or adult, implying that mathematics is not only useful but imaginative and stimulating as well.
Finally, although several journalists have highlighted Shakuntala Devi’s gift, her most valuable contributions to mathematics lie in her advocacy for overall greater mathematical literacy, and for spreading the joy of mathematics among all peoples at different ages and levels of skill.
FAQs on Shakuntala Devi Biography
What did Shakuntala Devi discover in maths?
On 18 June 1980, she multiplied two 13-digit numbers, 7,686,369,774,870 and 2,465,099,745,779, randomly selected by the Department of Computing at Imperial College London, and provided the correct answer, 18,947,668,177,995,426,462,773,730, in 28 seconds.
who is shakuntala devi?
An Indian mathematical virtuoso nicknamed The Human Computer, hakuntala Devi was celebrated for her ability to do high-level arithmetical calculations in her head at breakneck speeds for international media. She published several books on mathematics for children and adolescents, particularly outstanding girls, that made significant contributions to the development of mathematics education and literature.
Why was Shakuntala Devi so intelligent?
She was born to a circus acrobat and began traveling when she was three, practicing her mathematics with card tricks. Soon she was able to calculate cube roots in her mind as if it were nothing, and this skill led her naturally into a career as an entertainer who would showcase her unusual abilities.
What is the reason for the death of Shakuntala Devi?
Shakuntala Devi was hospitalized in Bangalore in April 2013 because of a respiratory problem. However, her heart and kidneys became complicated after two weeks of medical intervention, thus she couldn’t take it anymore and unfortunately died in hospital on April 21, 2013 at the age of eighty three years old.
What is Shakuntala Devi IQ level?
She scored between 90-110, which is average.
