WORLD'S FASTEST HUMAN COMPUTER

Shakuntala Devi is a calculating prodigy who was born on November 4, 1939 in Bangalore, India. Shakuntala Devi is popularly known as a 'Human Computer' because of her extraordinary talents in solving complex mathematical problems without any mechanical aid. Manifested with an extraordinary love for numbers at the age of 3, she became an expert in complex mental arithmetic at the age of five. By age six she demonstrated her calculation and memorization abilities at the University of Mysore. At the age of eight she had success at Annamalai University by doing the same. In 1977 she extracted the 23rd root of a 201-digit number mentally. On June 18, 1980 she demonstrated the multiplication of two 13-digit numbers 7,686,369,774,870 x 2,465,099,745,779 picked at random by the Computer Department of Imperial College, London. She answered the question in 28 seconds. Her correct answer was 18,947,668,177,995,426,462,773,730. She also found her place in the Guinness book of records as a result of her extraordinary talents.

She has authored many books especially the world famous Figuring: the Joy of Numbers where she shares some of the methods of mental calculations. Puzzles to puzzle you, More Puzzles to Puzzle you, The Book of Numbers, Mathability: The Math Genius in Your Child, Astrology for you, Perfect Murder and Awaken the Genius in Your Child are some of the books authored by her. In 2006 she has released a new book called In the Wonderland of Numbers with Orient Paperbacks which talks about a girl Neha and her fascination for numbers.

 Update: Shakuntala Devi passed away at Bangalore on Apr 21, 2013 after brief illness. She was 83 and is survived by a daughter.

WORLD'S LARGEST GUITAR ENSEMBLE

Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, India has once again entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest guitar ensemble in 2007 after its successful entry for the largest drum ensemble in 2006. A record number of 1730 guitarists strummed persistently for five minutes to Bob Dylan’s classic "Knocking on Heaven’s door". They broke the previous record set by 1721 guitarists from Kansas City, USA who strummed Deep Purple’s "Smoke on the water" in September 2006.

Even though none of the representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records was present, State Director General of Police (DGP) BK Dey Sawian and Dr Lapynshai Syiem, NEHU (North Eastern Hill University) music lecturer were the adjudicators as per the laid norms of the Guinness Record book.

The guitarists of all ages and skills strummed in unison to perform the classic composition of Bob Dylan to start a month-long Autumn Festival in state capital Shillong.

State authorities said they were trying to promote India's north- eastern region through such events. 'We are trying to promote the region through music ... last year it was the drum circle and this time it was the guitar ensemble and maybe next year something different,' state education minister RG Lyngdoh told to reporters.