cognishift.org COGNISHIFT INSIDER, ISSUE 2, VOL-1 , ISSUE 02/25 OCTOBER ISSN: 3107-6556
Bridging Civilizations Through Memory, Literature, and Art
“Liberty is not merely the birthright of a nation — it is the eternal dialogue between art, memory, and the human soul.”
— Dr. Leander (Dr. Prashant Madanmohan)
The Meaning of Bastille Day Beyond Borders
Bastille Day — La Fête Nationale — is far more than the commemoration of a revolution; it is the affirmation of an idea: that liberty and creativity together define the human spirit. On this day, France reminds the world that freedom finds its highest expression not in politics alone, but in thought, art, and cultural conscience.
In that very spirit, The Cognishift Initiative marked Bastille Day with a meaningful act of remembrance and renewal — the presentation of a special exclusive edition of The God of Deserted Memories to the Consul General of France in Chennai.
The gesture symbolized not only friendship between nations but also a deeper philosophical bridge — one that unites the French, Indian, and Armenian imaginations through art and literature.
A Literary and Artistic Bridge Across Civilizations
Authored by Dr. Prashant Madanmohan (Dr. Leander) and accompanied by the paintings of Armenian impressionist artist Mari Poghosyan, The God of Deserted Memories stands at the confluence of literature, philosophy, and visual art.
The book explores how civilizations remember — and how art becomes a vessel for that memory. Each of Mari Poghosyan’s works within the book and exhibition embodies this philosophy through vivid symbolism and impressionist emotion: the merging of French light, Armenian soul, and Indian depth.
“Every civilization remembers through art; every artist rebuilds a civilization through memory.”
The forthcoming French translation of the book carries this cross-cultural spirit forward, extending its reach to new audiences while reaffirming the shared aesthetic language that unites East and West.
France — The Conscience of Art and Philosophy
From Camus’s existential clarity to Rodin’s sculptural rebellion, France has continually challenged the boundaries between art and life.
In The God of Deserted Memories, that same French spirit finds new resonance. The prose reflects the intellectual precision of France’s literary tradition, while Mari Poghosyan’s paintings evoke the emotive light of French impressionism — reinterpreted through an Armenian lens of resilience and memory.
Together, the author and artist craft a dialogue where thought becomes image, and image becomes philosophy — a union that mirrors the tri-civilizational harmony of France, India, and Armenia.
A Bridge of Memory Between Nations
The presentation of the book to the French Consul General transcended the formality of a diplomatic exchange. It became an act of remembrance — an artistic offering from one civilization to another.
France, India, and Armenia share legacies of endurance, beauty, and rebirth. The collaboration between Dr. Leander and Mari Poghosyan gives this shared narrative a modern embodiment — proving that memory, when shaped through art, can build bridges more enduring than treaties.
“Art is the language through which civilizations remember one another.”
Toward a Future of Cultural Evolution
In an era where cultural identity risks dissolving into homogeneity, the French legacy reminds us that to preserve art is to preserve individuality.
The God of Deserted Memories — through its union of text and art — becomes more than a book. It becomes a movement: a call to awaken collective memory, to transcend division through creativity, and to rediscover the sacred continuity between liberty and culture.
“Vive la France. Vive la mémoire. Vive l’unité des civilisations.”
About the Authors
Dr. Prashant Madanmohan (Dr. Leander) is an Indian surgeon-turned-author and philosopher, and founder of Cognishift, a global initiative for cultural and civilizational dialogue. His work explores the intersections of memory, art, and human evolution.
Mari Poghosyan, an Armenian impressionist painter, is celebrated for her expressive works that merge symbolism with emotion. Her art — deeply rooted in Armenian heritage and inspired by French and Indian influences — has been showcased at international exhibitions, including the First Indo-Armenian-French Art & Literary Confluence at Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai.
Together, they embody a shared artistic mission: to revive civilizational memory and build a new language of unity through art, literature, and thought.
📍 Published in the September-October 2025 issue of Cognishift Insider
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