Explanations:Shakuntala Devi was an Indian mathematician and writer known for her exceptional mental calculation abilities. Born in 1929, she gained international fame for her ability to perform complex mathematical calculations at an astonishing speed, often faster than computers. This earned her the nickname "Human Computer." Her feats included multiplying two 13-digit numbers in just 28 seconds, a record that was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1982.
Shakuntala Devi's abilities were not limited to multiplication. She was also skilled in other areas of mathematics, such as finding cube roots and square roots of large numbers, and performing calendar calculations. Her talent was not just a matter of memorization but involved a deep understanding of mathematical principles and the ability to apply them quickly and accurately.
Her achievements in mental calculation were widely recognized and she performed demonstrations in various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. She also authored several books on mathematics, puzzles, and other topics, including "Puzzles to Puzzle You" and "Figuring: The Joy of Numbers."
While other mathematicians like Srinivasa Ramanujan made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, they are not known for competing with computers in mental calculations. Ramanujan, for instance, was famous for his work in number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions, but his contributions were more theoretical and less focused on practical computational speed.
Similarly, Raja Ramanna, a nuclear physicist, and Rina Panigrahi, who is not widely recognized for any significant achievements in mathematics, do not fit the description of someone who held the pride of beating computers in mathematical wizardry.
Therefore, Shakuntala Devi is the correct answer as she is the one who is widely recognized for her exceptional mental calculation abilities and for outperforming computers in mathematical tasks.