MALAYSIA - Give mathematics genius Shakuntala Devi, 69, of India, a mathematical problem and she will solve it within seconds as SHUHADA ELIS finds out

Q: How do you manage to solve mathematical problems in seconds?
A: Numbers come to me naturally. I developed my calculation and memorisation abilities at the age of 3. I started demonstrating these abilities in universities when I was 6 years old and had my name entered into the Guinness Book of Records in 1995.

Q: You are known as a "human computer" because of these abilities. Are there any other names by which you are fondly referred to?
A: Actually, I don't really like the name because I'm more of a human than a computer. But a long time ago in South America they called me "princess" because they couldn't pronounce my name (laughs).

Q: Do numbers affect our daily lives?
A: Yes, they are important because you cannot get away from them. For instance, the number of times our heart beats and our blood pressure count.

Q: How do you find Malaysia?
A: It's been a long time since I was here. At that time, it was called Malaya. I'd like to visit schools and colleges here to demonstrate my skills and, perhaps, challenge some students with mathematical questions (laughs).

I also hope to build a Mathematics Centre here so that I can empower young minds. We just started operating one centre in Bangalore (India) two months ago.

Q: Speaking of young minds, did you know we have a 10-year-old mathematics prodigy here by the name of Adiputra Abdul Ghani?
A: Oh really? I've never heard of him but it'll be good if we can meet. I believe a child's curiosity and receptiveness can never be matched.

Q: What are your interests?
A: I've written 22 books so far and they're not only on mathematics. I wrote a few on sociology, astrology and fiction as well. I have a keen interest in astrology as my grandfather was an astrologer, so it's in the blood. But I do not read someone's future from the palm, I do calculations based on birth dates and my predictions are always 100 per cent correct. Among my clients are Hillary Clinton and Nelson Mandela.

Q: What do you think of the mathematics syllabus taught in schools nowadays?
A: I think it is a bit dry. Maybe schools can improve the style of teaching so students will be more interested in the subject.