Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth04/11/1929
BirthplaceBengaluru, Karnataka, India
ProfessionWriter, Mathematician
NationalityIndian
Marital statusDivorced
SpouseParitosh Banerjee (1960-1979)
FamilyDaughter - Anupama Banerjee
Shakuntala Devi Biography
Indian mental calculator and writer famed for extraordinary arithmetic ability, known as the “Human Computer.” Performed demonstrations worldwide, authored
Early life and backgroundShakuntala Devi was born in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 4 November 1929 into a family with limited financial means. She received virtually no formal education; she attended a convent school for only three months at age ten and left because her family could not pay the fees. Her parents worked in the performing arts, and her father recognised her facility with numbers when she was a small child. By the age of five she was already calculating cube roots, and within a few years her skill at rapid mental calculation drew public attention.
Career
Her early talent led her father to present her abilities in road shows and public demonstrations. As a child prodigy she performed before university faculties in India, including the University of Mysore, Annamalai University, Osmania University, and other institutions. By 1944 she had travelled with her family to London and, as recognition of her skills grew, she toured widely across the globe to demonstrate mental arithmetic.
Over decades she appeared in demonstrations and contests in countries including the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Sri Lanka, Italy, Canada, Russia, France, Spain, Mauritius, Indonesia, and Malaysia. One of the most widely reported feats occurred when she was asked to multiply two randomly chosen 13‑digit numbers; she produced the correct product in 28 seconds, a performance that was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records in 1982. On another occasion at Southern Methodist University in Dallas she computed the 23rd root of a 201‑digit number more quickly than a Univac computer.
Outside live demonstrations, Shakuntala Devi wrote on a range of subjects. Her published work included books on mathematics for children, puzzles, cookery, and novels. She also wrote on astrology and produced a pioneering study on sexual orientation in India titled The World of Homosexuals. She established the Shakuntala Devi Education Foundation Public Trust to support underprivileged children’s education.
Honours and recognition
International recognition for her gifts included awards such as Most Distinguished Woman of the Year from the University of the Philippines (1969) and the Ramanujan Mathematical Genius Award in Washington, D.C. (1988). She received a Lifetime Achievement Award one month before her death in 2013. Researchers took academic interest in her abilities; psychologist Arthur Jensen published findings from studies of her performance in the journal Intelligence.
Public profile
Media appearances helped shape her public persona as the “Human Computer.” A notable television moment came on the BBC, where a host initially doubted the correctness of her rapid answer before acknowledging it was right; coverage of that incident contributed to her international reputation. She also courted controversy at times: a complaint filed in 1985 in Nagpur challenged her astrology and prediction work, and public debate followed about those activities.
Personal life and family
Shakuntala Devi married Paritosh Banerjee, an Indian Administrative Service officer from Kolkata, in 1960; the marriage later ended in divorce. The couple had one daughter, Anupama Banerjee. Shakuntala identified with Hinduism and belonged to a Kannada Brahmin family. She maintained a vegetarian diet.
Death
Shakuntala Devi died in Bengaluru on 21 April 2013 at the age of 83. Reported causes of death included respiratory, heart, and kidney complications. Google commemorated her with a Google Doodle on 4 November 2013, marking what would have been her 84th birthday.
Latest updates
A biopic about her life was announced with actress Vidya Balan attached to portray her. The film was slated for a 2020 release according to reports from the period covered in this profile.
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Recent Work
A comprehensive study on homosexuality in India authored by Shakuntala Devi.
Authored books aimed at children and general readers on mathematics, puzzles, and cookery.
Career Highlights
- Gained international fame as a mental calculator, performing demonstrations worldwide
- Entered the Guinness Book of Records in 1982 for a rapid multiplication feat
- Received awards including Most Distinguished Woman of the Year (University of the Philippines, 1969) and the Ramanujan Mathematical Genius Award (1988)
- Authored books across genres and founded an education trust
- Subject of academic study in the journal Intelligence
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Shakuntala Devi born?
Shakuntala Devi was born on 04/11/1929.
What is Shakuntala Devi known for?
Shakuntala Devi is known for writer, Mathematician.
What is Shakuntala Devi’s marital status?
Shakuntala Devi's marital status is listed as Divorced.
Who is Shakuntala Devi married to?
Shakuntala Devi is publicly listed as married to Paritosh Banerjee (1960-1979).
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