SHARJAH: The Malayalam version of the 2019 Man Booker International Prize winner Jokha Alharthi’s novel titled ‘Nilavinte Pennungal’ was released at the 39th SIBF happening at the Sharjah Expo Centre by Malabar God Chief Faisal handing it over to Adv. Rashid Al Suwaidi. Jokha Alharthi’s novel was translated from Arabic by leading novelist Ibrahim Badusha Wafi. The book launch was held at the Olive Publications Pavilion.
The novel ‘Nilavinte Pennungal’ portrays various images of witchcraft, slavery, and the evolutionary stages of modern Oman. The novel tells the story of the life of three sisters and their families in the village of Al Awafi in the years following independence from Britain in the 1950s. The story revolves around Mayya who marries Abdullah, Asma who marries because of her sense of responsibilities, and Khaula who immigrates to Canada to reunite with the man she loves. At the same time, the novel tells about women who are both weak and strong but are alienated in their own land.
The book was introduced at the function by Salim Ayyanath. Olive Publication Gulf Coordinator, UAE Legal Representative, and Social Activist, Salam Pappinisseri; Olive Publication Middle East Organizer, Ashraf Atholi; Feroz Abdullah; Basheer Thikkodi; Ansar Kozhilandi; President of Chiranthana Cultural Center and General Secretary of the Incas UAE Committee Punnakan Muhammadali; Adv. Shankar Narayanan; social activist KTP Ibrahim; Munthir Kalpakancherry and Hamsa Kariyadan Mankadavu participated in the event.
