Shakuntala Devi Biography

Shakuntala Devi was an Indian writer and mathematical genius popularly known as the "human computer". She was reputed to make complicated mathematical calculations in her head and effortlessly speak out the results! Born into an impoverished family in southern India as the daughter of a circus performer, she started displaying her skills at an early age. Her father recognized her as a child prodigy and took her on road shows where she displayed her ability at calculation. What was really amazing about the young girl’s mathematical prowess was that she did not receive any formal education owing to her family’s financial situation, yet emerged to be one of the most brilliant mathematical minds of her time. Her phenomenal ability to perform the most complicated mathematical calculations without the aid of any technological device gained her much fame and she eventually became an international phenomenon. Arthur Jensen, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, tested and studied her abilities and published his findings in the academic journal ‘Intelligence’. Her extraordinary abilities also earned her a place in the 1982 edition of ‘The Guinness Book of World Records’. In addition, she was also a well known author of children’s books as well as works on mathematics, puzzles, and astrology.