Scratch a genius, and you will find a polymath: Shakuntala Devi
Human Computer?! When I first heard about Shakuntala Devi, the fascinating Indian 20th-century mathematician, I instantly thought of a monomath savant - because that's how she was usually mentioned: someone who could beat computers at crunching numbers.
This is a common scenario, as observed with numerous polymaths - even though they excel in multiple fields, one specialization often takes the spotlight. Naturally, in Shakuntala Devi's case, it's the most captivating facet. However, what perplexes me is that versatility tends to be intrinsic to genius in most instances, rather than an exclusive focus on a single subject. In fact, it was this epiphany that made me research and write a book titled "Why Polymaths?", for nearly every person who contributed significantly to the shaping of our civilization (no matter the country of origin) was polymathic.
Shakuntala Devi captivated people around the world in the 70s and 80s with her remarkable ability to mentally solve equations involving extremely large numbers, setting new world records in calculations. One of its highlights was recorded in 1977 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where she computed the 23rd root of a 201-digit number within 50 seconds, whereas a Univac computer took 62 seconds for the same task.
Her name earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for her achievement of multiplying two randomly assigned 13-digit numbers at Imperial College London in 1980.
The question on everyone's lips was, "How do you do it?"
Was it her education, exceptional mentors, or genes? It was none of these; she achieved something that even people from the most privileged backgrounds couldn't.
"At three, I fell in love with numbers. It was sheer ecstasy for me to do sums and get the right answers. Numbers were toys with which I could play." Shakuntala Devi
Her father turned away from being a temple priest to join the circus. He recognized young Shakuntala's talent for memorizing numbers while teaching her card tricks. Eventually, he left his circus job to showcase her extraordinary abilities in roadshows across the world. By age five, she was proficient at solving mathematical problems, and by six, she toured various Indian universities, impressing audiences. Despite being the youngest member of her family and just a child, she became their primary provider. As she grew older and toured globally with her shows, she became rich and famous.
Growing up in a circus family and participating in roadshows since early childhood proved beneficial, as it led to her presenting mathematical shows worldwide later on. Can you fathom entertaining people with math? Shakuntala Devi radiated with wit and enjoyment, capturing the hearts of people. Was she the pioneer edutainer? In reality, her knack for illustrating the elegance and simplicity of mathematics through enjoyable means served as an inspiration to countless students in India and globally. Students recounted that her performances reshaped their perspective on mathematics, fostering success in the subject.
“I have been running maths clubs for children completely free. In my building in Bangalore, I conduct maths clubs for several months, and every child who attended the club was poor in mathematics and is now showing brilliant results.” Shakuntala Devi
Learning
Shakuntala never attended school or any formal educational institution. She was a complete self-learner, exploring the world with an insatiable curiosity and a deep desire to understand. I believe it was her childlike sense of playfulness, untouched by formal schooling, that allowed her to maintain the explorer perspective. She perceived the interplay of nature and numbers everywhere! Her fascination seemed boundless, encompassing everything she encountered.
“What is mathematics? It is only a systematic effort of solving puzzles posed by nature.”
Writing
Even though she often mentioned that letters, unlike numbers, weren't her forte, she ventured into it nonetheless. She penned a variety of books on Mathematics, Calculations, as well as fictional novels and cookbooks, among other genres.
Writings/ Selected Works of Shakuntala Devi
Interestingly, she wasn't initially fluent in English when she embarked on her international tours, but over time, she achieved proficiency in multiple languages. Her pursuits didn't stop at writing. Her curiosity and agency led her... to astrology and politics!
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Astrology
She channeled her mathematical prowess into the pursuit of astrology, a highly esteemed field in Indian culture. In a similar vein, she embarked on worldwide tours, as stated in a Times article, attending to as many as 60 clients per day. Clients would provide her with their date of birth, time of birth, and birthplace, and she would offer insights into three aspects of their lives. She even authored a book titled "Astrology for You." Devi garnered respect as a personal astrologer for numerous politicians, movie stars, and business leaders.
Politics?
In 1980, Devi contested a seat in the Lok Sabha, the Indian Parliament, as an independent candidate from two distinct constituencies — Mumbai and Medak (located in present-day Telangana). In Medak, her primary rival was the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, whom Devi had openly criticized. Despite her widespread recognition, her popularity didn't translate into votes. She secured the ninth position in the race, whereas Gandhi emerged victorious and reclaimed the position of Prime Minister.
Progressive Spirit
Shakuntala was outspokenly progressive. She believed in independent living. She chose not to adopt her husband's surname, and she even engaged in disputes with clerks to uphold this stance. She asserted, "I want the ration card to be made out in my own name, acknowledging me as a fully autonomous individual, a complete entity in my own right".
Her husband, a senior officer in the Indian civil service, later came out as homosexual, leading to their divorce. While for many, this revelation could have been a shattering experience causing bitterness, Shakuntala's response was entirely unforeseen. As inquisitive as she was, she aimed to grasp the phenomenon and approached the subject with the mindset of a scientist. She started her research on homosexuality and authored India's first comprehensive book on the topic. Moreover, she took on the role of a pioneer gay rights activist, three decades ahead of the moment when LGBTQ rights would begin to find their place in the broader discourse of Indian society.
Average IQ
Now, concerning her extraordinary abilities, scientists were eagerly intrigued to examine her brain. And what was the outcome? Surprisingly, there was nothing extraordinary about it! Arthur Jensen pointed out that her performance on the Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM) test was "unexceptional," suggesting her score aligned with that of typical adults and college students. This indicates she scored within the range of 90-110, which is considered average.
Shakuntala Devi was a genius who did not ever seek validation. She firmly believed in herself and said,
“Nobody challenges me, I challenge myself”.?
Shakuntala Devi was a modern polymath, which reflects itself in her life’s events as she went on specialiazing in various domains rather than sticking to just mathematics.
Unlike the general perception of mathematical geniuses and the like, people described her as a warm, outgoing and engaging person, adept at holding conversations and having a good stage presence.
She was not someone who touted her skills or wanted to pursue math exclusively; rather, she said that what the world needed was more humanity.
P.S. In the 2022 biopic "Shakuntala Devi," available on Amazon Prime, her vibrant human side comes alive. The film unveils the cheerful and fun-loving woman, celebrated for her independent spirit. Amid her remarkable journey, the movie captures the challenges she faced while balancing motherhood with her personal aspirations – a narrative shared by countless women globally. This portrayal offers a unique perspective on polymathy, showcasing how it encompasses not only multifaceted genius but also the complexities of being human, including the often uncharted role of a mother.