Shakuntala Devi (1929-2013) was best known as “the human computer” for her ability to perform lengthy calculations in her head, swiftly. One example of this, described in her New York Times obituary, took place in 1977, at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where she extracted the 23rd root of a 201-digit number in 50 seconds. It took a Univac computer 62 seconds to do the same.
1. Devi holds the Guinness World Record for “Fastest Human Computation.”
2. She was an ally of L.G.B.T.Q. people.
3. She applied her mathematical strength to a pursuit of astrology.
4. She wrote a novel.
5. She once tried to forge a path into politics.
Source: 5 Things to Know About Shakuntala Devi – The New York Times