Born November 4 1906, Paris. Died October 27 1982.
Education and professional career
- 1930 : Doctor of Medicine
- 1934 : Graduate of the École pratique des Hautes Études
- 1935 : Graduate of the École nationale des Langues Orientales vivantes (Modern languages of India : Tamil)
- 1936 : Licencié ès Lettres
- 1939-1940 : Lieutenant physician in the army
- 1946 : Doctor of Letters
- 1941-1978 : Director of Studies at the École pratique des hautes études (IVe section)
- 1952-1978 : Professor at the Collège de France, chair Languages and literatures of India
- 1955-1977 : Founder and Director of the French Institute of Pondicherry
- 1956-1977 : Director of the École française d'Extrême-Orient
- 1966 : Member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres
- 1974 : Vice-President of the Société Asiatique
Awards and distinctions
- Knight of the Legion of Honor
- Commandeur des palmes académiques
- 1949 : Officer of the Royal Order of Cambodia
- 1959 : Gold Medal of the Tamil Writers Association Madras