Shakuntala Devi

“I have written a book called 'In the Wonderland of Numbers.' It's about a young girl, Neha, who is very poor in mathematics, but in a series of illusory experiences, she becomes a great mathematician.”

“What is mathematics? It is only a systematic effort of solving puzzles posed by nature.”

“Students shy away from Maths, but in reality Maths is the best friend of man.”

“Numbers have life; they're not just symbols on paper.”

“Education is not just about going to school and getting a degree. It's about widening your knowledge and absorbing the truth about life.”

“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.”

“Knowing more about numbers and being acquainted with them will not only enrich our lives but also contribute towards managing our day to day affairs much better.”

“I travelled round the world giving demonstrations of my talents. In every country, I performed for students, professors, teachers, bankers, accountants, and even laymen who knew very little, or nothing at all, about mathematics.”

“Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.”

“I relax completely when I'm at rest. I don't think of numbers; I don't think of work.”

“Primes are the important main ingredient of numbers, for every number is either a prime or a product of primes.”

“I have a particular affection for zero because it was some of my countrymen who first gave it the status of a number.”

“Many go through life afraid of numbers and upset by numbers. They would rather amble along through life miscounting, miscalculating and, in general, mismanaging their worldly affairs than make friends with numbers.”

“I haven't had any formal education. Through the grace of god, I am gifted in mathematics and the English language.”

“Without mathematics, there's nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.”

“You develop a sympathy for all human beings when you travel a lot.”

“I grew up in a semi-slum area in Gavipuram, Guttahalli.”

“I don't even possess a car. I ride in auto-rickshaws because I like to be a part of the masses. I don't want to single myself out as someone up and above.”

“I was performing at a New Jersey high school, and I asked a class of 2,000 students, 'How many of you love mathematics?' and only one hand went up. And that was the hand of the maths teacher!”

“Solving wits and puzzles, in a way, helps to develop wit and ingenuity.”