We are surrounded by numbers from the time of our birth. From playing cards, buying ice cream, solving trigonometry to measuring the wall for a movie poster, numbers constitute almost all important activities of our daily lives. But more often than not, children in school have a very hard time with the Mathematics subject.
Numerical calculations require a sense of clarity in the mind. Techniques like abacus and mental calculations are methods that the human brain employs to make itself easy around numbers. This ability to mentally solve numerical sums involving multiplications, additions, or divisions has been recently pioneered by a YouTuber and entrepreneur from Hyderabad, India.
Neelkanth Bhanu Prakash has been titled as the ‘worlds fastest human calculator’, who made history by holding 50 Limca records for his mathematical calculations.
Life Threatening Injury
In 2005, when Bhanu was five years old, he met with a brutal road accident that fractured his skull. Even after 85 stitches and multiple operations, the doctors warned Bhanu’s parents that he could be cognitively impaired for the rest of his life due to his head injuries.
“The accident changed the way I used to define fun, and it is the reason why I am here today”, said Bhanu in an interview to CNN world.
It was during his time in recovery that he learnt how to play chess, solve puzzles and numerical calculations to keep his brain engaged. It was also the time when he was locked inside his house for almost a year.
Following his injury, in 2007, Bhanu finished third in a sub junior category at the state level speed arithmetic competition in Andhra Pradesh state. This is where it all starts and just by the age of 17, his accuracy and mathematical calculations eclipsed the renowned Shakuntala Devi.
Because of his speed and precision, Bhanu earned the title of the world’s fastest human calculator. In 2020, Bhanu became the first Indian and Asian to win a gold medal in the World Championship in London’s Mind Sports Olympics. Following the achievement, the President and the vice president of India recognised his glorious contributions to mathematics.
In the years between 2014 to 2016, Bhanu set 50 Limca book records across various categories. He was also awarded as India’s Youth Icon in 2020 by National Youth Council of India.
Entrepreneurship and Mathematics
Other than championing academics and mathematics on the global stage, Bhanu founded an educational organisation that aims to make maths less challenging and more interesting called Exploring Infinity in 2018.
“My experience began the day I went to a government school and realised that they did not know that multiplication is repetitive addition. That’s what struck a chord, and then that’s when I began my firm.” said Bhanu in the CNN world interview.
He has also founded an Indian tech platform dedicated to transforming maths learning globally. The platform called Bhanzu is trying to innovate technology based easy solutions to mathematical learning. In 2022, Bhanu Prakash was recognised in the 30 Under 30 list of Forbes Asia in the category of consumer technology.
“My fascination with mathematics began at a very young age, and I started participating in various competitions at state and national level. Being introduced to maths differently than others, in the form of fun puzzles and games is how I fell in love with numbers and that love has only grown stronger with time.” said the founder and CEO of Bhanzu in an interviewV to media group India today.
