Andr{é} and Simone Weil: Mathematics, social activism and Indian culture
Athanase Papadopoulos, Susumu Tanabé
TL;DR
This paper investigates how André and Simone Weil engaged with Indian culture and Sanskrit literature, especially the Bhagavad-Gita, and how these readings guided their major life decisions. It combines biographical narrative with excerpts from letters and scholarly sources to show a dharma-inflected ethics that intersected with Greek and Christian thought. A core contribution is the detailed treatment of André's Aligarh years, his conscientious stance on military service, and Simone's activist and mystic paths, all interpreted through the Gita and related texts. The work illuminates the influence of Indian thought on 20th-century intellectuals and demonstrates a cross-cultural synthesis that deepens our understanding of ethics, philosophy, and the history of mathematics.
Abstract
This is an essay on the relation of Andr{é} and Simone Weil with Indian culture and Sanskrit literature, especially the Bhagavad G{ī}t{ā}, a Hindu scripture which they knew well, which they quoted extensively, and which guided them in making important life decisions. In addressing this question, we will also talk about the life paths of the two Weils, and more specifically about certain aspects that relate to their deep convictions.