Birla Balika Vidyapeeth remembering Shakuntala Devi on her 91st Birthday - 4rth November 2020
A Sketch by Eshita Bathwal
Class XI B
Life of The Human Computer
The Mathematics legend was gifted to the nation and born on the 4th of November 1929 in Bangalore, Karnataka. She learnt the art of memorizing the numeric values at the age of 3, and after discovering this, her father motivated her to display this marvelous art in reputed universities like University of Mysore. Till the time she could make it up to the foreign land, she held various shows and events showing her outstanding skills to the local crowd and people across the country.
In 1950, Shakuntala went overseas and showcased her arithmetic talent to the entire world. She could even solve the 21st cube root of a 201-digit number in just 50 seconds for what a computer code was written to get the correct answer! The things for which others needed time to write down, she could just majestically solve them in just a few seconds.
She was an exemplary human-calculator, astrologer and even contested for many Lok Sabha Elections from the South Mumbai Constituency. Her name was engraved in the Guinness World Book of Records for solving the multiplicative product of two 13-digit in an unbelievable time duration. In the year 1977, Shakuntala Devi authored a book on mental calculations,” The Joy of Number”. In this book she discussed some smart tricks relating to the calculations and many more. In April 2013, Shakuntala Devi was admitted to a hospital after she complained about respiratory problems. Within two weeks of getting admitted, it was found that she was suffering from complications of the heart and kidneys. On April 21, 2013, Shakuntala died at the age of 83. Remembering her, India looks forward to gift more talents to the world.
Saumya Nagpal
Class XII B
AWARDS , HONOURS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
· Guinness World Records honoured Indian math genius, Shakuntala Devi, with the long- overdue record title for 'fastest human computation', four decades after she achieved the feat.
· She was found to be an expert in highly complex mental arithmetic.
· She developed the concept known as ‘Mind Dynamics’.
· She treated homosexuality in a positive vein and wrote a book “The world of homosexuals”.
· In acknowledgement of her talents, she was heralded as ‘Human Computer’ after she projected her talents in the BBC channel.
· In 1969 she was awarded the title of the 'Most Distinguished Woman of the Year' by the University of Philippines.
· She received the 'Ramanujan Mathematical Genius' Award in Washington D.C in 1988.
She is Awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award one month prior to her death in 2013.
Medha Maheshwari
Class: XII-A
A Review of the movie on 'The Human Computer - Shakuntala Devi'
This movie not only revolves around the relationship of Shakuntala Devi with numbers but also her life as a mother and a women. Her journey began with a three year old solving difficult math problems and doing her own shows across schools would not be as much remarkable if I do not tell you the fact that she was the sole earner in the family of four. Young fearless and independent spirit in the 1950’s living by her own rules and spirit adds to her dazzling persona.
A reflection of her character when her daughter asks her to be a normal mother like every other “why should I be normal when I can be amazing?”
The life of Shakuntala Devi with numbers was seamless but relationship with her family often ended up puzzled and miscalculated, highlighting her glorious and proud moments on stage and dwelling into a string of troubled relationship with her parents, the anger towards her mother for not standing up against her father when it mattered, men in her own life and finally the relationship with her daughter.
The first hour of the film was engaged in fun and creating the base for the movie, shifting to London, changing her makeover, brushing up with English language and etc. after building her base in London she takes place as the toast of parties also. Finally torn between motherhood and the women who she inherently is – a math whiz, that she is compelled to make some difficult choices.
Ultimately, this movie is a simple fun and fascinating to watch the life of a human computer who is more accurate and correct than an actual computer, a free spirit and so much more! Vidya kasam, don’t give this movie a miss.
Jiya Khurana
Class XII D
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