On May 11, 2025, at 4 PM, the iconic Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai, will transform into a haven of artistic expression and literary brilliance as Cognishift.org presents a unique confluence of cultures and creativity through an Armenian-French-Indian Art Exhibition and the Book Launch of The God of Deserted Memories.
At the heart of this event are two remarkable minds whose works speak across continents and cultures — Dr. Prashant Madanmohan (Dr. Leander) and Mrs. Mari Poghosyan.
Dr. Prashant Madanmohan, a Chennai-based orthopaedic surgeon and cultural thinker, is also the founder of Cognishift.org and Editor-in-Chief of Cognishift Insider magazine. His latest book, The God of Deserted Memories – A Literary and Philosophical Odyssey Through Art, Identity, and the Enduring Legacies of France, Armenia, and India, is an introspective journey that blends memoir, fiction, and cultural commentary. The book explores forgotten memories, artistic resistance, and human values through philosophical storytelling, literary allusions, and historical reflections — taking readers from the Armenian monasteries and French boulevards to the soul of Tamil civilization.
Mrs. Mari Poghosyan, a renowned Armenian artist and impressionist painter, presents a curated collection of artworks that resonate with the themes of the book — art as memory, resistance, and transcendence. Her evocative works not only capture Armenian spirit and heritage but also explore cross-cultural connections with France and India. From the poignant portrayal of Notre-Dame de Paris and The Little Prince to vivid interpretations of Albert Camus’ Sisyphus, the Eiffel Tower in the Rain, Indian temple architecture, and Armenian monasteries her brush creates bridges between nations and hearts.
Together, the artist and author bring a shared vision — that art and literature are timeless vessels that unite people beyond borders, language, and faith. The exhibition features over 30 artworks inspired by the book, offering guests an immersive visual experience alongside philosophical and literary reflection.
The evening promises to be a rich cultural tapestry of art appreciation, intellectual dialogue, and celebration of heritage — attended by distinguished guests, cultural patrons, diplomats, and thinkers.
We warmly invite — lovers of art, books, culture, and meaningful conversations — to be part of this momentous event.
Let us remember together. Let us celebrate what endures.
🎨📚 Join Us for a Cultural Evening of Art & Literature
🗓️ May 11, 2025 | 🕓 4 PM Opening Inauguration
Exhibition continues till May 17th
📍 Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai
RSVP – +91 9443081159 👉 Click to Chat on WhatsApp
ENQUIRIES – editor@cognishift.org
Discover a soul-stirring exhibition of paintings by Armenian artist Mari Poghosyan, and the launch of Dr. Prashant Madanmohan’s much-awaited book:
The God of Deserted Memories
An artistic and philosophical journey through France, Armenia, and India.
📘 The God of Deserted Memories – Read on Amazon, now available Worldwide
📅 Event Details
Date: May 11, 2025 (Sunday)
Time: 4:00 PM onwards
Exhibition continues till May 17th
Venue: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, Greams Road, Chennai
Organized by:
Dr. Prashant Madanmohan & Mari Poghosyan
In collaboration with the Lalit Kala Akademi, Ministry of Culture, Government of India
🗓️ Event Agenda
4:00 PM – Arrival of Guests & Registration
4:15 PM – Welcome Address – Dr. Prashant Madanmohan
4:25 PM – Opening Remarks by Chief Guest / Dignitaries
4:40 PM – Felicitation of Contributors, Artists & Guests of Honor
4:50 PM – Book Launch: The God of Deserted Memories
5:05 PM – Introduction to the Art Exhibition – Mari Poghosyan
5:20 PM – Guest of Honor Address
5:30 PM – Exhibition Viewing and High Tea
6:30 PM – Closing Notes & Networking
The event is intended as an intimate cultural gathering of diplomats, artists, academics, and thinkers, celebrating the spiritual and aesthetic links between Armenia, India, and France.
📖 France – About the Book & Artworks
In the spirit of Voltaire, Hugo, and Camus,
The God of Deserted Memories is a meditation on memory, identity, and art as the highest form of resistance.
Written by Indian author and philosopher Dr. Prashant Madanmohan (Dr. Leander), the book bridges three civilizational legacies—France, Armenia, and India—through literature, history, and introspective fiction.
The story follows Leon Garamond, a surgeon turned seeker, whose journey across time and thought reflects a deeper philosophical inquiry into what it means to remember, to resist erasure, and to live truthfully in a fractured world.
Drawing heavily from French literary thought—especially the existentialism of Camus, the humanism of Hugo, and the realism of Balzac—the book also weaves in Tamil classical wisdom and Armenian spiritual endurance.
This work is not only a tribute to France’s towering intellectual legacy, but also a reaffirmation of France’s enduring role as a cultural beacon, where memory, beauty, and rebellion against forgetting remain in constant dialogue.
In a world haunted by amnesia and displacement, The God of Deserted Memories seeks to reweave the tapestry of civilization through the shared language of art and ideas.
📖 India – About the Book & Artworks
This book is a profound journey through memory, art, and cultural heritage — woven together by an Indian voice seeking truth beyond borders.
The God of Deserted Memories explores the enduring legacies of India, Armenia, and France, revealing how civilizations speak to one another through literature, philosophy, and aesthetic resilience.
At its heart, the book reaffirms India’s age-old commitment to unity in diversity, compassion, and cultural dialogue. It revisits the epics of Tamil Nadu, the spirit of Bharati and the Cholas, and interlaces them with Armenian endurance and French philosophical reflection.
Through the fictional lens of Leon Garamond, the author reflects on what it means to carry memory as a duty, to preserve identity as an act of service, and to heal a divided world with the force of ideas.
Dr. Leander’s work is a tribute to India’s role as a spiritual and cultural crossroads — a nation where every language is a soul, and every art form a legacy of love.
It is a reminder that India has not only absorbed the world’s wisdom, but also shaped it through millennia of dialogue, introspection, and creativity.
📖 Armenia – About the Book & Artworks
This evocative work is both a philosophical meditation and a cultural memoir, weaving together the forgotten echoes of civilizations through the lens of art, memory, and human resilience.
At its heart lies a deep tribute to Armenia — not merely as a geographic nation, but as a living spirit of endurance, beauty, and silent strength.
Through its chapters, the book reimagines memory as resistance, and art as the soul’s language across borders. It reflects on the cultural legacy of Armenia through its songs, symbols, and sacrifices — especially as seen in the lives of artists, survivors, and thinkers who carried the flame of identity through history’s darkest hours.
Anchored in the author’s travels and inner journeys, The God of Deserted Memories explores how France, India, and Armenia, despite their diverse pasts, are connected by deeper currents of civilization — where beauty triumphs over erasure, and spirit survives forgetting.
👤 About the Author – Dr. Prashant Madanmohan (Dr. Leander)
Orthopaedic Surgeon • Author • Philosopher • Cultural Curator
Founder, Cognishift.org
Dr. Prashant Madanmohan, known by his literary name Dr. Leander, is a multi-faceted thinker and storyteller whose work bridges medicine, memory, and art. Trained as an orthopaedic surgeon, he radiates from the operating theatre into the realm of philosophy and cultural literature, guided by a lifelong commitment to healing not just the body, but the spirit of civilizations.
As the founder of Cognishift.org, he curates artistic and philosophical narratives that honour forgotten truths and forge meaningful connections between cultures. His work celebrates the enduring legacies of India, Armenia, and France, reflecting his belief in the power of art as resistance, memory as continuity, and literature as a bridge.
Dr. Leander’s writing is a confluence of disciplines — blending memoir with metaphysics, fiction with historical reflection, and personal journey with global insight. His earlier works include Armenian Spiritual Sanctuaries and Monk with a Stethoscope, both deeply rooted in cross-cultural empathy and intellectual courage.
In The God of Deserted Memories, his most ambitious work to date, Dr. Leander gives voice to the silenced, breathes life into lost cultures, and reminds the world that beauty endures where memory is kept alive.
Through his literary vision and cultural initiatives, he continues to advocate for harmony, remembrance, and the timeless dialogue between nations and souls.
🎨 About the Artist – Mari Poghosyan
Impressionist Painter • Cultural Curator • Voice of Armenian Memory
Born in Armenia and now based in Chennai, Mari Poghosyan is an Armenian impressionist artist whose works transcend aesthetics to become instruments of remembrance, resistance, and revival.
Her brush is both storyteller and witness — preserving fading traditions, reimagining myth, and transforming grief into grace.
Deeply influenced by the ancestral spirit of Armenia, Mari’s paintings embody the silent strength of cultural memory — from folklore to the resilient soul of her homeland. Her visual language blends classical technique with contemporary insight, inviting viewers into landscapes shaped by longing, exile, and the unbreakable thread of identity.
Mari’s work has been featured in several exhibitions across Armenia and India, where she has emerged as a powerful advocate for cross-cultural dialogue through art. Her commitment to preserving indigenous narratives, while building bridges with Indian and French traditions, makes her voice uniquely relevant in a world that often forgets.
Her love for India, Armenia, and France is evident in every stroke she paints.
In The God of Deserted Memories, over 35 of her original artworks bring the book’s themes to life — turning words into textures, and history into color.
As both artist and cultural curator, Mari continues to inspire a new generation to cherish their roots while embracing shared humanity.
Her art is not only a visual experience — it is a call to remember.
💬 Endorsement by Chevalier Dr. Raghunath Manet
French Veena Maestro • Virtuoso Dancer • Director • Music Composer • Choreographer
“What connects a wistful French chanson, the sunlit memories of a Tamil boy, and the timeless art of Armenian monasteries?
In The God of Deserted Memories, this extraordinary puzzle comes to life.”
🧭 A Journey through Art, Identity, and the Silence of History
In the forgotten corridors of memory stands Leon Garamond — a surgeon turned philosopher, a seeker haunted by questions he can no longer ignore, and a narrator searching for meaning in forgotten canvases, lost manuscripts, and melodies left unfinished.
Their lives are a tapestry of encounters and revelations that bridge cultures separated by distance yet intertwined by their enduring legacies: India, France, and Armenia.
As their paths intertwine, so does the fate of stories left untold, cultures erased, and memories long forgotten.
💬 Endorsement by Kalaimamani Dr. Prakash M. Swamy
UN Correspondent • Senior International Journalist
“Guided by literary greats from Dumas and Voltaire to Bharatiyar and Camus, Leon embarks on a deeply personal exploration of art, literature, and the truths concealed beneath historical distortions.
Through his eyes, we traverse from the majestic temples of the Cholas in Tamil Nadu to the poignant ruins of Armenian sanctuaries, from the philosophical boulevards of Paris to the quiet rebellion hidden within poetry and paintings.”
💬 Reflection from the Book’s Spirit
“Where memory resists and art remembers, a tapestry of ruins, rebellion, and remembrance unfolds.
From the sacred stones of Tamil temples to the lost echoes of Armenian sanctuaries and the melancholic soul of Parisian boulevards, three nations unite in one soul—bound by forgotten truths.
When art becomes memory — and memory, defiance — one man must journey through silence to song, reclaiming the lost voice of civilization.
Because what we forget, we risk losing forever.”
💬 Endorsement by Prof. Dr. Lems Nersisyan
Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences • Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia
“At its heart, this book is a meditation on remembrance as resistance.
It asks crucial questions:
Can identity survive erasure?
Can art defy the ravages of time?
And can memory become humanity’s greatest act of defiance against oblivion?”
💬 Reflection by Mari Poghosyan
Armenian Artist & Cultural Curator
“Blending poignant reflections, philosophical insight, poetic interludes, and a vibrant dialogue between India, France, and Armenia, the book is more than a journey—
it is a call to remember, a plea to reclaim truths buried by power, and an urgent invitation to weave unity from our rich diversity.”
💬 Reader Testimonial
“A novel that lingers like an unfinished song.
This book is for lovers of literary depth, historical introspection, and the eternal search for answers and identity.
For those who remember. And for those who have forgotten.”
📘 The God of Deserted Memories – Buy on Amazon
