1.Can you take us back to your childhood and share when you first discovered your exceptional talent for math? What early experiences shaped your passion for numbers?
My journey with math began unexpectedly after a severe accident at age five left me bedridden for almost a year. To keep my mind active, my parents introduced me to math puzzles and games. These activities not only aided my recovery but also sparked a deep interest in math. Unlike many children, my passion for numbers wasn’t born in the classroom but through natural curiosity. Math became something I looked forward to, much like sports for others. I began participating in state and national math competitions, which helped me develop my skills. Eventually, this led to becoming the World’s Fastest Human Calculator and India’s first Gold Medalist at the Mental Calculation World Championship at Mind Sports Olympics, London, and was praised by the president of India, surpassing records set by legends like Shakuntala Devi.
2. You survived a serious accident at 5. How did that experience change your outlook on life and math? Did it push you to achieve more?
The accident I had at the age of five was a turning point in my life. During recovery, math became more than just numbers; it was a mental exercise that kept me focused and motivated. It gave me a sense of purpose and helped me stay sharp while healing. This experience changed my perspective on life and helped me discover a passion for math. I started loving math not just for its logic but for the way it challenged me mentally.
This passion led me to conduct workshops worldwide, sharing my love for math. Over time, this journey grew into Bhanzu, the global math learning platform that I founded.
3. What was your journey like from being India’s fastest human calculator to breaking breaking world records? What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?
Breaking four World Records and 50 Limca Book records was an incredibly rewarding journey but came with significant challenges. It took countless hours of practice, patience, and dedication. However, my passion for math turned this hard work into a source of motivation, rather than something burdensome. While I made progress, I faced hurdles early on, especially in school, where some teachers didn’t fully appreciate my quick calculation abilities and felt they wouldn’t help in traditional exams.
These experiences shaped my understanding of how math is often taught in a way that doesn’t make it engaging or relatable. This realization deepened during my time in college, where I saw many students struggling with basic concepts. This inspired me to create Bhanzu, a platform designed to make math exciting and fun, showing students that math is not just a subject but a world of endless possibilities.
4. In a BBC interview, you received a call from the President of India to acknowledge your remarkable achievements. Could you share what that moment was like for you?
When I was giving an interview to the BBC, it was quite unexpected to be interrupted by a call from the President of India. It’s not something that happens in your everyday life. The President graciously congratulated me on winning gold for India, and that moment was truly humbling. To receive recognition from the highest office in the country filled me with immense pride and a sense of patriotism. It was heartwarming to know that the leaders of our nation are so encouraging and supportive of those striving to achieve for the country. That call reminded me of the importance of what we are doing, and it gave me even more motivation to continue my journey with greater determination.
5. How did your success as a mental calculator inspire you to start Bhanzu ? Was there a defining moment that pushed you toward creating an edtech company?
My experience as a human calculator and teaching thousands of students worldwide made me realize how widespread math anxiety is—about 3 out of 4 students I met were afraid of math. This was a defining moment that showed me math anxiety is a global issue, inspiring me to take action. A major turning point came when I collaborated with the Telangana government and various national and international NGOs to develop a numeracy program for government schools. This led to the Exploring Infinities project, which impacted over 2 million children and became the largest math education initiative in South Asia. Conducting workshops in 20+ countries among thousands of students gave me valuable insights into how math should be taught. This inspired the creation of the Bhanzu curriculum, which aims to make math enjoyable and accessible. Building a dedicated team sharing this vision was essential to creating a lasting impact.
6. Can you explain how Bhanzu’s curriculum is designed to make math learning more engaging and relatable for students? What differentiates it from traditional methods?
At Bhanzu, our curriculum stands out to over six years of research and testing out numerous curriculum trajectories. What makes it unique is the combination of foundational math, supplemental learning, and real-life application, meeting every student’s needs. We use interactive tools like in-class games, real-time feedback, and story-based lessons to make math engaging. Our focus is not just on teaching the “how” of math but also the “why,” sparking curiosity and deeper understanding. This approach emphasizes creative problem-solving and cognitive skills, moving away from traditional rote memorization. Additionally, Bhanzu’s geo-agnostic curriculum ensures that it remains relevant and accessible to students worldwide, making math both enjoyable and relatable.
7. What were some of the early challenges you faced while building Bhanzu, and how did you navigate them as a young entrepreneur?
As a young entrepreneur, I never saw age as a barrier to building something I was passionate about. I was fortunate enough to have the right exposure to how math should ideally be taught, which allowed me to turn my love for math into a profession. One of the early challenges I faced with Bhanzu was creating a learning ecosystem where others could feel the same excitement and interest that I had in math.It took considerable effort to build an environment where my passion could be shared by both students and educators. Recruiting the right talent is crucial, as is constantly refining the curriculum to make it more enriching for students. Another challenge was upgrading our learning products to ensure they aid in effective learning, something we continue to focus on every day.
8. As Bhanzu expanded globally, how are you adapting the platform to different education systems and cultures?
As Bhanzu expanded globally, we’ve focused on adapting the platform to meet the diverse learning needs of students from different education systems and cultures. At the core of this adaptation is our understanding that each student has a unique learning pace. To accommodate this, we tailor assessments to individual learning styles, ensuring that every student receives the right level of challenge. Traditional methods often overlook these differences, but at Bhanzu, we dynamically customize learning pathways to help students follow the optimal trajectory for their growth. Through these personalized pathways, we not only build foundational math skills but also foster speed, cognition, and critical thinking by applying math to real-world scenarios. This approach allows us to ensure that math is relatable and relevant for students across various regions, while still maintaining our core mission of making math enjoyable.
9. What role do you see artificial intelligence and machine learning playing in the future of math education, particularly within Bhanzu’s platform?
Through AI-driven assessments, we are able to offer highly personalized learning experiences for each student, providing real-time feedback and progress tracking. This allows us to tailor the learning process according to each student’s unique needs, ensuring they receive the right level of challenge and support.By leveraging advancements in AI, gamification, and data analytics, we can give teachers deeper insights into each student’s progress and areas for improvement. This makes math education more effective, engaging, and accessible. AI enables us to identify learning gaps early and dynamically adjust learning pathways, making sure students stay on the right trajectory for growth. As we continue to integrate AI, our goal remains to make math enjoyable and empowering for all students.
10. Who are some of your role models or inspirations in the field of mathematics or education, and why?
There are many role models but some notable role models are Srinivasa Ramanujan, Shakuntala Devi, and Sachin, they inspired me as they were passionate about their work and chasing their passion which not only inspired me but inspired the world. Their accomplishments underscore the power of dedication and the profound effect it can have, inspiring anyone to strive for excellence.
11. Looking ahead, what are your future goals for Bhanzu? How do you envision the company evolving over the next 5-10 years in the global education landscape?
Looking ahead, our mission at Bhanzu is to positively impact the learning journeys of over 100 million students in the next five years, establishing ourselves as the world’s largest and most innovative math education platform. Our long-term goal is to transform the global math education landscape, creating a more math-literate society capable of thriving in an increasingly data-driven world. To achieve this, we continuously research and improve our curriculum to cater to diverse geographies and student needs. Ultimately, we aspire to develop a universal math curriculum that can be adapted for children from all backgrounds, ensuring that every child has access to quality math education, regardless of where they live.
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