Om Books International celebrates Chinese Literature with Man Asian Literary Award-Winning Novel, Three Sisters by Bi Feiyu

Noida, January 12, 2012: Om Books International launched the Man Asian Literary Award-Winning Novel, Three Sisters by Chinese author and screenplay writer Bi Feiyu on 12 January, 2012 at the Olive Bar & Kitchen, Mehrauli, New Delhi.

Namita Gokhale and Ira Pande were in conversation with the author. Writer, publisher and co-director of the Jaipur Literature Festival, Namita Gokhale is an author of six novels and several works of non-fiction. She is also member-secretary of Indian Literature Abroad (ILA), an initiative to translate and promote contemporary Indian literature internationally.

Ira Pande’s memoir of her mother, Diddi, the famous Hindi writer Shivani, published by Penguin-India in 2005, was shortlisted in the best non-fiction category of the Crossword-Vodafone award in 2006. She has also translated Manohar Shyam Joshi’s Hindi novella, T-ta Professor, which was awarded both the Crossword-Vodafone award and the Sahitya Akademi award for the best translated work into English for 2010. Ira is currently the Chief Editor of the Publications Division of the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi.

Says Ajay Mago, Publisher, Om Books International, “To have published Three Sisters by Bi Feiyu in the Indian subcontinent for readers who appreciate literature from around the world has been an enriching experience for me. The book has been very well received by fiction enthusiasts. The social issues addressed in the book have a universal appeal. We do have several other books in the pipeline from writers across the world that we shall be publishing this year.

I also take this opportunity to thank Malaysian Airlines, Olive Bar & Kitchen and The Grand for extending their support to help us organize the launch event. ”

Malaysia Airlines’ General Manager for North India Mohamed Sathik Ali said, “We are proud to be associated with this latest initiative of Om Books International which is a novel way of bridging two of Asia’s greatest civilizations during this modern era. This is similar to the efforts of Malaysia Airlines in providing convenient air connectivity between these two nations through our home base, Malaysia. We do hope the interest shown towards Three Sisters here will pave the way for more Indians to visit China whilst enjoying the unique Malaysian Hospitality during their travels on our flights.”

Says AD Singh, Director, Olive Bar and Kitchen, "Olive has always been committed to providing and cultivating a perfect marriage of style, art, culture and cuisine. Our association with Om Books International gives us a platform to introduce our patrons to explore the literary world and look at things from a new perspective."

Says, Shrikant Wakharkar, General Manager, The Grand, “As hospitality partner, The Grand New Delhi is glad to be associated with the launch of Three Sisters by Bi Feiyu.”

Note to the Editors

About the Book

From the petty treachery of the village to the slogans of the Cultural Revolution and the harried pace of city life, three sisters strive to change the course of their destinies in a China that does not truly belong to them.

Yumi, the eldest, struggles to retain dignity as her ideal marriage falters. Yuxiu relies on her talent for seduction. And, Yuyang, the youngest, lays her hope in her own intelligence, securing the education that her sisters were denied.

A breathtaking account of the challenges facing women in Communist China.

About the Author

BI FEIYU is one of the most respected authors and screenwriters in China today. He was born in 1964 in Xinghua, in the province of Jiangsu. A journalist, poet and novelist, he has been awarded a number of literary prizes, including the prestigious Lu Xun Literary Prize. He co-wrote the film Shanghai Triad, which was directed by the internationally renowned director Zhang Yimou. His novel The Moon Opera was longlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize in 2008. Three Sisters won the Man Asian Literary Prize.

About Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines (www.malaysiaairlines.com) is the national carrier of Malaysia and one of Asia's largest, flying nearly 43,000 passengers daily to some 100 destinations worldwide across 6 continents. The distinctive Malaysia Airlines brand is an extension of the special culture of warmth and friendliness unique to Malaysians. This inimitable Malaysian sense of graciousness is branded as “Malaysian Hospitality” and symbolized by the acronym MH which is also the airline’s flight code.

Malaysia Airlines currently operates 40 weekly flights from India to its home base KL International Airport (KLIA) in Malaysia through New Delhi (12 flights), Chennai (07 flights), Hyderabad (07 flights), Bangalore (07 flights), and Mumbai (07 flights). From KLIA it offers a total of 48 weekly convenient and immediate connections to the cities of Beijing, Guangzhou, Kunming, Shanghai and Xiamen in mainland China as well as Hong Kong.

About Olive Bar and Kitchen

Olive at the Qutub, is a rustic hideaway where good food, laughter, culture and conversation come together in a delightful melting pot. Dappled sunlight on soft arm chairs. A white pebbled courtyard punctuated by bougainvillea. Worlds collide and time stops in this Mogul mansion turned alfresco Mediterranean restaurant under the shadow of the Qutub Minar. Welcome to a space so stunning that the Conde Nast Traveler rated this multi- award winning restaurant as one of the world’s best new restaurants. Drop in and discover the capitals best kept secret. At the Greenhouse on the Ridge at the Olive Qutub dine in an intimate Tuscan kitchen overlooking a tranquil forest, spend an evening with your loved ones as the chefs cook right around you. Sneak culinary secrets from them while you dine as if at home in the middle of this rustic living room. Welcome to the wide-open, while walled restaurant of our travels. We hope you enjoy it.For more information, please visit: www.olivebarandkitchen.com

About The Grand

The Grand, New Delhi is a luxury business hotel with state of the art accommodation & convention facilities complemented with service excellence for the discerning business traveller.

The Grand is now open after an extensive renovation and refurbishment. With a brand new lobby, bar, restaurants and newly appointed rooms we are now further geared to recognise the distinctiveness of luxury travellers and the importance of personalized experience.

Strategically located in the heart of the South Delhi, less than 20 minutes from National & International Airport, within a short drive to the city center and also well placed access to the business hubs of Gurgaon, South Delhi, Noida and Okhla .The 390 luxurious appointed rooms- including 25 Suites and 5 Serviced Apartments are surrounded by tranquillity to ensure that the guest experiences a city resort in this business hotel.

Cuisine at The Grand spans an array of dining experiences offering a variety of national and international options namely Caraway, Woktok, Cascades, Crystal Lounge, G Bar, IT and Indulge.

About OM Books International

Om Books International (OBI) has published amongst other genres, several cinema-related titles: A.R Rahman: The Spirit of Music, an authorised biography by Nasreen Munni Kabir; The Dialogue of Pyaasa: Guru Dutt’s Immortal Classic by Nasreen Munni Kabir; Still Reading Khan by Mushtaq Shiekh; Shah Rukh Can by Mushtaq Shiekh; The Original Screenplays of Lage Raho Munna Bhai and 3 Idiots; Bollywood in Posters by SMM Ausaja shortlisted for Vodafone Crossword Award 2010 for non-fiction to name just a few. Some titles in the pipeline are: The Dialogue of Devdas: Bimal Roy’s Immortal Classic by Nasreen Munni Kabir; Indian Cinema: Love and Passion by Firoze Rangoonwalla; The Bachchans by SMM Ausaja; I’ll Do It My Way: The Incredible Journey of Aamir Khan by Christina Daniels, and many more. Cinema is one of the strongest suits of OBI. Besides, OBI publishes fiction, monographs on art and architecture, photo essays (the latest one being Mumbai, Where Dreams Don't Die by Raghu Rai and Vir Sanghvi; Forts and Palaces of India by Amita Baig and Joginder Singh), Fashion and Lifestyle books, Children's books, Mind, Body and Spirit books.

Om Books International also runs a retail chain of bookstores across Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida, and has a very well-established domestic and international distribution network. It shall shortly open book stores in Mumbai.