The human computer (1929-2013)
Who can forget Shakuntala Devi, the ‘human computer’? A writer, mental calculator and a child prodigy, she earned a place in the 1982 edition of The Guinness Book of World Records. Born on November 4 1929 in Bangalore, into a very poor Brahmin Kannadiga family, her father who instead of becoming a priest opted to be a circus artiste, could ill-afford her school fee of Rs. 2, and so she never attended school. However, the 3-year-old, accompanying her father to the circus, was mesmerised with his performances.
Later, he introduced her to the world of mathematics, teaching her interesting card tricks that initiated her love for numbers. Her ability to solve difficult mathematical problems soon spread like wildfire and she enthralled audiences with her wit and card-tricks, while her father entertained them with rope-walking.
She had her first major show at the University of Mysore at 6 years, where she displayed her mathematical prowess by solving arithmetical problems, mental math questions and finding out complex square roots and cube roots within a few seconds. At Annamalai University at the age of 8, she was finally acknowledged as a ‘child prodigy’.
Never resorting to using any mechanical device, she shot to greater fame by mentally calculating one of the toughest mathematical multiplications 10 seconds faster than the fastest and the most efficient computer of the time. Her adept calculations and her confident demeanour won her plaudits. Albert Einstein, taken aback by her skills, called her a ‘Mathematical Wizard’.
Through the 1950s, she toured the world and performed in a number of institutions, theatres and even appeared on television. On October 5 1950, at a BBC show, host Leslie Mitchell gave her a complex math problem to solve, which she did in seconds, but he contested her answer. However, on Devi’s insistence, there was a re-check and the host conceded. This earned her the sobriquet of the ‘Human Computer’.
The popular Bob Wellings of the BBC show, ‘Nationwide’ on Sept. 27, 1973, was stunned when she managed give the right answers to all the mathematical questions that he bombarded her with. 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.
Fortunately, unlike many other child prodigies, her mathematical skills did not wane in her teenage and adult years. Apart from being an unparalleled mathematician, Devi was also an astrologer, activist and a prolific writer, whose works inspired millions of people. Some of her best-known works are ‘Figuring: the Joy of Numbers’, ‘Astrology for You’, ‘Perfect Murder’ and ‘The World of Homosexuals’. ‘Puzzles to Puzzle You’ is considered one of her best works for aspiring and budding mathematicians.
Among her awards included the ‘Distinguished Woman of the Year Award’ in 1969, from the University of Philippines, along with a gold medal; the ‘Ramanujan Mathematical Genius Award’ in 1988, conferred by then Indian Ambassador to U.S. and also enlisted 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 honoured with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in Mumbai, in 2013. She set up the ‘Educational Foundation Public Trust’ to promote mathematical, astrological and philosophical studies in Bangalore.
Married to Paritosh Banerjee, an IAS officer from Kolkata, in the mid-1960s, the couple however, separated in 1979 (due to his homosexuality). In 1980, she contested the Lok Sabha elections as an independent, from Bombay South and Medak, Andhra Pradesh, “to defend the people of Medak from being fooled by Mrs. Gandhi”, but lost.
She soon began offering astrological advice to celebrities and politicians. Towards the end of her life, Devi grew frail. Her health soon began to deteriorate after her kidneys failed, and she breathed her last on April 21, 2013. On 4 November 2013, Devi was honoured with a Google Doodle for what would have been her 84th birthday!