Solving Rubik’s Cube is a cakewalk for this Bengaluru 7-year-old

BENGALURU: Punarva Chandramouli, 7, is just like any other child of her age — she enjoys activities like reading, painting and swimming. But what sets her apart is her passion for Rubik’s Cube and ability to solve it extremely fast.
The latest feather in her cap is a place in Asia Book of Records for solving the maximum number of Rubik’s Cubes, which she achieved on June 18. The girl also made it to India Book of Records for solving the maximum number of Rubik’s Cubes (most solved by a child) — 35 in just 31 minutes, 7 seconds and 62 milliseconds on June 9.
Punarva’s landmark achievement was a spot in International Book of Records for being the ‘fastest to solve maximum varieties of Rubik’s Cubes — she solved 21 cubes in 19 minutes, 33 seconds 88 centiseconds. She created the record on April 11.
She also participated in the world record of the largest number of people solving different types of Rubik’s Cubes in the least time on April 25 for the International Book of Records.
The second-grader at Baldwin Girls’ High School, whose favourite subject is maths, says solving the cubes is all about being well-versed in algorithms and formulae that she was taught in class. “I solve them at least for an hour every day. Solving Rubik’s Cube makes one’s brain sharper and intelligent,” Punarva told TOI.
Punarva was first introduced to Rubik’s Cube when her father’s work took the family to Switzerland in 2019. Her father, Chandramouli Parvathamma Gangadhar, an IT professional, said she got acquainted with the cube looking at her friends in Switzerland.
“When we returned to India in August 2020, her interest in Rubik’s Cube peaked. She asked to be enrolled in a class to learn how to solve it,” he said. That’s when Chandramouli and his wife, Aruna Kempegowda, a homemaker, decided to enrol Punarva at the Brain Studio. Punarva’s elder brother Kavan is a class 5 student at Baldwin Boys’ High School.
“Mr Srinivasa Murthy taught her everything online – the formulae, algorithms. Each cube with different dimensions requires a different algorithm and it is fascinating to see her at it. It requires a lot of patience and focus,” Chandramouli said, adding how he was unable to do it as perfectly as his daughter even after repeated attempts.
He said it is not everyone’s cup of tea, and both he and his wife feel proud looking at their daughter create one record after another. Punarva is still figuring out what she wants to be when she grows up. While she said she aspires to become a doctor, Chandramouli chuckled and said: “Till yesterday, her dream was to become a teacher.”