shakuntala devi biography
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Shakuntala Devi (4 November 1929 – 21 April 2013) was an Indian writer and mental calculator, popularly known as the "Human Computer". Devi strove to simplify mathematics for students.[1][2][3][4][5] Her talent earned her a place in the 1982 edition of The Guinness Book of world Records.[6][2][3][7] However, the certificate for the record was given posthumously on 30 July 2020, despite Devi achieving her world record on 18 June 1980 at Imperial College, London. Devi was a precocious child and she demonstrated her arithmetic abilities at the University of Mysore without any formal education.[6][3]
Devi wrote a number of books in her later years, including novels as well as texts about mathematics, puzzles, and astrology. She wrote the book The World Of Homosexuals, which is considered the first study of homosexuality in India.[8][9] She saw homosexuality in a positive light and is considered a pioneer in the field.[8]
Personal life
Devi returned to India in the mid-1960s and married Paritosh Banerji,[23] an officer of the Indian Administrative Service from Kolkata.[24] They divorced in 1979 due to personal problems.[24] In 1980, she contested the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate for Mumbai South and for Medak in Andhra Pradesh (now in Telangana).[25] In Medak she stood against former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi,[26] saying she wanted to "defend the people of Medak from being fooled by Mrs. Gandhi";[27] she stood ninth, with 6,514 votes (1.47% of the votes).[28] Devi returned to Bangalore in the early 1980s.[24]
In addition to her work as a mental calculator, Devi was a notable astrologer and an author of several books, including cookbooks and novels.[2][5][12]