Gadkari Remembers Shakuntala Devi on Birth Anniversary
Synopsis
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari remembered Shakuntala Devi, the 'Human Computer', on her birth anniversary on November 4. Born in 1929, Devi was a self-taught mental calculator who set a Guinness World Record in 1980 by multiplying two 13-digit numbers in 28 seconds.
Key Takeaways
Nitin Gadkari posted a birthday tribute to Shakuntala Devi on November 4, 2026 , her birth anniversary.
Shakuntala Devi was born on November 4, 1929 in Bengaluru and earned the title 'Human Computer' for extraordinary mental arithmetic.
In 1980 , she multiplied two 13-digit numbers correctly in 28 seconds , earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records .
She was also an author whose books aimed to make mathematics accessible and enjoyable.
Devi passed away in April 2013 ; a biographical film in 2020 renewed public interest in her life.
She could multiply two 13-digit numbers in her head faster than a computer — and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari marked the birth anniversary of Shakuntala Devi on Wednesday, November 4, paying tribute to the legendary mental calculator on what would have been her 97th birthday.
Born on November 4, 1929, Shakuntala Devi grew up in Bengaluru and demonstrated extraordinary arithmetic abilities from childhood — without any formal schooling in mathematics. She toured the world, stunning university audiences and scientists alike, earning the moniker 'Human Computer' at a time when electronic calculators were still a rarity.
The feat that defined a legend
In 1980, Shakuntala Devi correctly multiplied two randomly selected 13-digit numbers — 7,686,369,774,870 × 2,465,099,745,779 — in 28 seconds, a feat that earned her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. The answer, 18,947,668,177,995,426,773,730, was verified by researchers at Imperial College London. That single moment crystallised her global reputation. Beyond arithmetic, she was an author, astrologer, and advocate — writing books on mathematics education that sought to make numbers feel intuitive and joyful rather than fearsome, a legacy educators still cite today.Why politicians mark her birthday
Tribute posts to Shakuntala Devi have become a fixture in Indian political calendars, particularly among leaders keen to spotlight homegrown intellectual achievement. Her story — a self-taught prodigy from a modest background who outpaced machines and impressed the world — fits neatly into narratives of Indian intellectual excellence that cross party lines. Gadkari's tribute follows a well-established pattern of such commemorations by Union ministers and state leaders alike. She passed away in April 2013 in Bengaluru, leaving behind a body of work and a reputation that a 2020 biographical film introduced to an entirely new generation. On a day that belongs to numbers, India's roads minister paused to remember the woman who made arithmetic feel like magic.Point of View
Mathematicians, and intellectuals on birth and death anniversaries — a soft-power gesture that reinforces national pride in homegrown talent. Such commemorations carry no immediate policy weight but serve to anchor public figures within a narrative of celebrating indigenous genius. Shakuntala Devi's story, cutting across class and formal education barriers, holds particular resonance in a political moment that frequently invokes self-reliance and native excellence. The tribute is ceremonial, yet the figure it honours remains genuinely consequential to India's scientific and cultural story.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Shakuntala Devi?
Shakuntala Devi was an Indian mental calculator and author, born on November 4, 1929, in Bengaluru. Known as the 'Human Computer', she could perform complex arithmetic calculations faster than electronic computers and set a Guinness World Record in 1980.
What was Shakuntala Devi's Guinness World Record?
In 1980, Shakuntala Devi correctly multiplied two 13-digit numbers — 7,686,369,774,870 and 2,465,099,745,779 — in just 28 seconds. The feat was verified by researchers at Imperial College London and entered in the Guinness Book of World Records.
When did Shakuntala Devi die?
Shakuntala Devi passed away in April 2013 in Bengaluru at the age of 83.
Why did Nitin Gadkari post about Shakuntala Devi?
November 4 is Shakuntala Devi's birth anniversary. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari shared a tribute on X to mark the occasion, following a common practice among Indian political leaders of commemorating noted intellectuals and scientists on their birthdays.
Was there a film made on Shakuntala Devi?
Yes, a biographical film titled 'Shakuntala Devi' was released in 2020, bringing her remarkable life story to a new generation of Indian audiences.
