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The Human Computer Who Shattered Gender Prejudice One Equation at a Time
The extraordinary mind of Shakuntala Devi
I rely on a calculator to help my second grader with his math homework. It’s not something I’m proud of, but I wasn’t gifted with a mind for mathematics.
My son can easily add three-digit numbers in his head like he’s naming off ice cream flavors. Some people are just naturally good at math.
Shakuntala Devi, however, put us all to shame with her extraordinary mathematical abilities. Her remarkable ability to perform complex calculations at mind-boggling speed led her to become the first reported female mathematician in India and landed her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Her Early Life
Shakuntala was born on November 4, 1929, in Banglore, Karnataka, India. While there isn’t much information about her mother, her father, Sundararaja Rao, was a circus performer. He earned his living as a trapeze artist, lion tamer, tightrope walker, and magician.
It’s no wonder his daughter was destined to become a marvel in her own right.
When Shakuntala was three years old, her father first noticed her amazing ability to memorize numbers when he taught her a card trick. He left the circus and…
