First Indo-Armenian-French Art & Literary Confluence Concludes in Chennai with the Launch of Cognishift Excellence Awards Initiative
cognishift.org First Indo-Armenian-French Art & Literary Confluence Concludes in Chennai
Chennai, 18 May 2025
Cognishift.org’s groundbreaking festival “The God of Deserted Memories” (11–17 May 2025) drew over 500 visitors to Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre. Conceived by surgeon-author Dr Prashant Madanmohan (Dr Leander) and Armenian impressionist Mari Poghosyan, the Confluence showcased 42 original paintings and marked the India launch of Dr Madanmohan’s 500-page philosophical novel, The God of Deserted Memories—already a #2 bestseller in Amazon India’s “Literary Criticism.” Together, the art and prose illuminated how memory, across India, Armenia, and France, can bridge cultures and preserve forgotten legacies.
Inaugural Ceremony Highlights (11 May)
- Chief Guests & Patrons:
- Kalaimamani Trotsky Marudu (visual-art pioneer)
- Poet-critic Indran Rajendran
- Former TN DGP Shri S.K. Dogra
- Addl. DCGI (Rtd) Dr C.S. Deva Prasad
- UN Correspondent Dr Prakash M. Swamy
- Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Director Shri Sovan Kumar
- Diplomatic Praise:
- Christophe Bramoullé, Deputy Consul-General of France: “Art capturing the essence of three cultures, showcasing their legacies.”
- Dr Ani Yeremyan, Second Secretary, Embassy of Armenia: “Hosting a phoenix of shared memory.”
- Screenwriter-director Thiru Brindha Sarathy, Dr M. Pattazhagan, Tamil poet-writer Manohari Madan; Auditor G. Madanmohan; Educator Shruthilaya M under the patronage of French Veena Maestro Chevalier.Raghunath Manet
- Honorary citations were conferred upon each dignitary for their cultural contributions by the Cognishift Cultural Council.
Week-Long Programming
| Date | Session |
|---|---|
| 12 May | Panel: “Tamil Sangam Literature & Global Relevance” with Mrs Manohari Madan and Ms Shruthilaya M., graced by London Norbury Park Deputy Mayor. |
| 13 May | Artist’s Walk-through by Mari Poghosyan; book-club recitals from The God of Deserted Memories. |
| 14 May | Dialogue: “Monuments Without Borders” led by Dr Prashant Madanmohan. |
| 15 May | Film-Music Evening: preview of Retour à Pondichéry by Chevalier Dr Raghunath Manet (Cannes video greeting) + live French-Tamil-Armenian medley by young artists. |
| 16 May | Open House for six Chennai colleges & Alliance Française delegation. |
| 17 May | Closing Walk-through “Memory Diplomacy” with Alliance Française Chennai & Pondicherry, French Institute of India, and Yerevan State Academy of Arts. |
Annual Cognishift Excellence Recognition Awards initiative
Monalisa D’Amour Awards Launch
At the esteemed event, Cognishift.org inaugurated its Monalisa D’Amour Awards, celebrating women writers, poets, and artists. Tamil poet-author Manohari Madan received the inaugural award for her romantic poems—translated into French, English, and Armenian—unveiled in the presence of Deputy Consul-General Bramoullé. Nominations for all categories remain open at cognishift.org/awards.
Voices from the Confluence
Trotsky Marudu:
Art and words have connected the three nations and led to the conclusion yaadhum oore yaavarum kelir. The book made me emotional—the paintings and the words reminded me of the various artists and artworks I have seen in my life. The book also brings out the contributions of Armenians to Chennai.
Indran Rajendran:
It’s a new chapter prompting me to delve into Armenian art history. This event positions Chennai as a centre of world art and literature uniting India, Armenia, France. So many sculptures in Tamil Nadu were crafted by great but overlooked artists; today we bring their names to the forefront. Mari’s paintings recall Claude Monet—her portrait of Raghunath Manet is both lifelike and innovative. This exhibition unites global cultures toward world peace. Mari’s ‘Thiruvalluvar on the Kaveri banks’ is timeless, speaking through silence.
S.K. Dogra:
Had I not known Dr Prashant is an orthopaedician, I’d have thought him a professor of literature or philosophy—he spoke with such depth and mastery. Through his book, he resurrects forgotten memories and reminds us of what we have lost.
Dr C.S. Deva Prasad:
Dr Prashant trained at Madras Medical College—where I studied—and yet stands apart. He’s done something no other doctor has: he celebrates three nations and cultures in one vision.
Dr Prakash M. Swamy:
The book speaks of memory, stirring recollections from my kindergarten days. He reminds us that profession and passion must unite—devote at least four hours a day to one’s calling. He praised Manohari’s poems, noting that being a journalist is easy, but an author is harder. He commended Dr Leander as doctor-surgeon-author who shatters old dogmas, and said the book deserves a Pulitzer: its polished expression, captivating style and expressive flow.
Brindha Sarathy:
Dr Prashant wrote of many inspirational figures—and even of me. I visited the Armenian church because of this exhibition. Mari’s monuments are stunning, especially her depictions of Indian sites. Art has truly united us at The God of Deserted Memories.
Manohari Madan:
The God of Deserted Memories is a metaphor for the silent presence of what we’ve abandoned—people, love, duty. Neglect grows within when we cease caring. Through moving texts and Mari’s paintings, the book reveals that forgetting isn’t just ancient—it happens in our own lives. It compares ruined temples to homes where love once lived. In a noisy world, it urges us to remember our ancestors’ wisdom, neglected art, and the stories of forgotten people—lest we lose not just history but ourselves.
Shruthilaya M.:
Memories here are living forces shaping who we are. The title suggests that forgotten places are sanctuaries where memory endures. Every story has multiple truths, and this book honors them all—exploring fading languages and enduring cultures across continents through art, literature, and music. Dr Leander shares his soul: a surgeon’s life, inspirations, silent battles framed by Sisyphus’s myth. Mari enlivens historical faces, each carrying its own search for meaning. Together, they speak to our deep longing to understand ourselves by reclaiming what we’ve left behind.
Mari Poghosyan:
Art is the only language I trust to tell the truth about memory. Monuments do not belong to one people alone; they are the echoes of a shared humanity. I see myself as a messenger of feeling. If my art makes someone pause, reflect, or feel a connection to something bigger than themselves—be it their ancestry or a truth they’ve forgotten—then I’ve done my part.
Dr Prashant Madanmohan (Dr Leander):
I believe art and literature can unite the world, irrespective of our skin color, languages, borders, or faiths. Yaadhum oore yaavarum kelir—‘the world is one family and everyone my kin’—is what the world needs to hear. We must remember our roots to embrace diversity and evolve together. Memory shapes us; forgetting haunts us.
Read the Book
Don’t miss this cultural odyssey—now available on Kindle:
Buy The God of Deserted Memories
About the Curators
- Dr Prashant Madanmohan: Orthopaedic surgeon, philosopher, founder of Cognishift.org.
- Mari Poghosyan: Armenian impressionist artist exhibiting in Yerevan, Chennai, and Europe.
Media Enquiries: editor@cognishift.org | +91 94430 81159
More Info: www.cognishift.org/godm
