YAASHWIN NO STRANGER TO ACCOLADES
Human calculator is one of nine finalists in ‘Asia’s Got Talent’
YAASHWIN Sarawanan is basically the boy you are envious of in Maths class. When he was 7 years old, perhaps at the prodding of his parents, Yaashwin enrolled in an abacus and mental arithmetic class. It took him a couple of years to master the intricacies of calculation.
Fast forward to the present, Yaashwin is now a 15-year-old mathematical prodigy who has been dubbed the “human calculator”
and being part of the Asian arithmetic pantheon — he is now one of the nine finalists in the third season of Asia’s Got Talent (AGT).
His talent? While others may suffer aneurysm when solving divisions without pen and paper, he completes complex calculations in his head without so much as a fuss.
“I started with zero interest and skill when I first enrolled in the abacus and mental arithmetic class. However, as the years passed by, I started to fall in love with calculations.
“I quit the class when I was about 9 or 10 years old and started delving more into calculation by myself when I was 13,” he said at a media conference at University Tunku Abdul Rahman yesterday.
But Yaashwin is no stranger to accolades when it comes to his speciality. He had emerged the champion in the international Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition back in 2017.
“To be honest, I surprised myself for being able to make it this far. I had only wanted to entertain people (with my calculation skills), but to be listed as one of the finalists, it is simply astonishing.”
Malaysia Mental Literacy Movement chairman Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, who was present, said individuals like Yaashwin must be consistent in practising several essential skills.
“People need to start practising skills such as memorising, thinking and speed reading. These are important skills to further strengthen the mind.”