Viraf Daruwala (Nalladaru) Vies for Guinness Book of Records

Date

February 15, 2011

Post by

arZan

Category

News

He is faster than a calculator. Give him two 500-digit numbers in two rows and he can subtract the second from the first in 200 seconds flat. Meet 50-year-old Viraf Daruwala (Nalladaru), Surat’s ‘man of subtraction’, who is vying for a record in the Guinness Book of World Records.

A Parsi, Viraf is a former employee of Surat Electricity Company (SEC), now Torrent Power SEC. His passion for digits started on the job while he was reading electricity meters. Viraf developed the knack of subtracting big numbers without using a calculator. He began by subtracting five-digit numbers in just two-and-a-half seconds.

In 2005, his unique subtraction feat got him an entry in the Limca Book of Records for subtracting 60-digit numbers in 30 seconds flat. Since then he is trying hard for the honour in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Bawaji, as he is known, belongs to a middle-class family, and works as a private electrician. However, most of his time is spent on digits. "Those who know me call me ‘a man of subtraction’. I am specially called in the birthday parties by our community members, wherein I am asked to perform the game of subtraction for entertaining the kids," Viraf said.

It was after some suggestions from his friends that Viraf started surfing the net to check whether there were any world records in ‘his field of subtraction’. His long search led him to one Shakuntala Devi, who has set a record for multiplication and addition.

"I wanted to do something different. Subtracting 5 from 2 is simple. But it becomes difficult to subtract 2 from 5 and that too when you have 500 such digits in two rows,” Viraf said.

Viraf is likely to be called by the Guinness Book record management team to perform the feat in the presence of experts in the next few weeks. "I am eagerly waiting to visit the Guinness World Record bureau in the UK. I will be the first to perform from Surat to hold the record and I am feeling very proud," Viraf added.

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20 Comments

  1. Joanna
    Joanna on June 7, 2020 at 2:24 AM

    Hey…this sounds very interesting…do keep me posted in case you get selected, can try writing a story for DNA…oh, and all the best at Guinness :)

  2. KAINAZ
    KAINAZ on June 7, 2020 at 2:24 AM

    Type your comment here…
    CONGRATS VIRAF BHAI ! VERY HAPPY 2 READ ABOUT YOUR INTELLIGENCE & GOD GIVEN TALENT !
    WISH YOU SUCCESS & GOOD LUCK 2 YOU !
    KEEP IT UP !

  3. Joanna
    Joanna on February 15, 2011 at 5:23 PM

    Hey…this sounds very interesting…do keep me posted in case you get selected, can try writing a story for DNA…oh, and all the best at Guinness :)

  4. KAINAZ
    KAINAZ on February 15, 2011 at 5:38 PM

    Type your comment here…
    CONGRATS VIRAF BHAI ! VERY HAPPY 2 READ ABOUT YOUR INTELLIGENCE & GOD GIVEN TALENT !
    WISH YOU SUCCESS & GOOD LUCK 2 YOU !
    KEEP IT UP !

  5. Dr. Cyrus B. Toorkey
    Dr. Cyrus B. Toorkey on June 7, 2020 at 2:24 AM

    Substracting 500 numbers written intwo lines! That is incredible. Do keep the Zarthushti world posted through this forum. All the best for the Guiness reccord.
    Good Luck. God Bless.

  6. Fali
    Fali on June 7, 2020 at 2:27 AM

    All the best Mr. Viraf. GOD Bless u.

  7. Dr. Cyrus B. Toorkey
    Dr. Cyrus B. Toorkey on February 15, 2011 at 10:49 PM

    Substracting 500 numbers written intwo lines! That is incredible. Do keep the Zarthushti world posted through this forum. All the best for the Guiness reccord.
    Good Luck. God Bless.

  8. Fali
    Fali on February 16, 2011 at 1:06 AM

    All the best Mr. Viraf. GOD Bless u.

  9. Aspi
    Aspi on June 7, 2020 at 2:24 AM

    It’s nice to see a Parsi enter the Guinness Book of Records, I am sure he will surely be succesfull. Your community is with you. Go Viraf Go.

    Aspi – Vancouver

  10. Aspi
    Aspi on February 16, 2011 at 6:58 AM

    It’s nice to see a Parsi enter the Guinness Book of Records, I am sure he will surely be succesfull. Your community is with you. Go Viraf Go.

    Aspi – Vancouver

  11. Kavas
    Kavas on June 7, 2020 at 2:24 AM

    I use to work for Surat Electricity Co. till 1988.and we both joined the company at the same time. Congrats and wish you success. My dad Mr. Kavas Daruwalla use to work for the same company ….

  12. Kavas
    Kavas on February 19, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    I use to work for Surat Electricity Co. till 1988.and we both joined the company at the same time. Congrats and wish you success. My dad Mr. Kavas Daruwalla use to work for the same company ….

  13. Perviz Vatchha - Kenya
    Perviz Vatchha - Kenya on June 7, 2020 at 2:24 AM

    Congratulations Viraf. You have done the Parsis proud. Best of Luck!

  14. Perviz Vatchha - Kenya
    Perviz Vatchha - Kenya on February 22, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    Congratulations Viraf. You have done the Parsis proud. Best of Luck!

  15. viraf erachsha daruwala
    viraf erachsha daruwala on June 7, 2020 at 2:24 AM

    thanks my wellwishers.

    i show our parsee power.

    my address; 12/2674,’asho farohar’,saiyedpura-bibi ni wadi.
    b/h.shahenshahi atashbehram. SURAT-395003. (gujrat) greater india.

    Mo. 098255 71025
    Resi.099254 85140

  16. viraf erachsha daruwala
    viraf erachsha daruwala on March 3, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    thanks my wellwishers.

    i show our parsee power.

    my address; 12/2674,’asho farohar’,saiyedpura-bibi ni wadi.
    b/h.shahenshahi atashbehram. SURAT-395003. (gujrat) greater india.

    Mo. 098255 71025
    Resi.099254 85140

  17. viraf daruwala
    viraf daruwala on June 7, 2020 at 2:24 AM

    i proud to be a parsi.

  19. viraf daruwala
    viraf daruwala on March 24, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    i proud to be a parsi.