Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s much-awaited memoir, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love,’ has triggered a publishing controversy in India after reports emerged that Penguin Random House India would not publish the book in the country.
The controversy centres on an apparent disagreement over the manuscript and the nature of editorial changes discussed between the publisher and the author. However, Penguin Random House India has since issued a clarification disputing the description that it “backed out” because Sonia Gandhi rejected editorial changes.
Reports cited references to Modi, RSS and China
According to a report, citing a person familiar with the matter, said the publishing discussions broke down after Sonia Gandhi refused proposed changes or deletions relating to references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Chinese intrusions. Gandhi took the position that the memoir was her account of her life and that she did not want changes that could distort her telling of events.
According to the report, Penguin Random House India would not publish the memoir in India after the author rejected requested “changes and deletions” to the manuscript. It also reported that HarperCollins was among the publishers reportedly interested in taking up the Indian publishing and distribution rights.
These reports, however, are based on sources familiar with the discussions and Penguin has not publicly confirmed the specific subject matter of any editorial requests.
Penguin issues clarification
Penguin Random House India issued a clarification on August 28 saying it is not the publisher of ‘Belonging’ in India.
The company also rejected the suggestion that it decided not to publish the memoir because Sonia Gandhi declined editorial changes. According to Penguin, such a description “does not accurately reflect the circumstances.”
The publisher said that fact-checking and making editorial recommendations in the interest of a book are a normal part of the publishing process. It declined to disclose details of its confidential discussions with the author.
Book still set for November 10 release
Despite the controversy surrounding its Indian publication, the memoir itself remains scheduled for release on November 10, 2026.
The book is being published internationally by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House. The first print run has been reported at 100,000 copies.
The memoir is expected to cover Sonia Gandhi’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi, her years in the Nehru-Gandhi family and her eventual entry into Indian politics.
A personal and political memoir
According to the publisher’s description, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’ will examine both the personal and political experiences that shaped Sonia Gandhi’s life.
The book is expected to revisit the assassinations of Indira Gandhi in 1984 and Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, her transition into public life and the period in which the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance came to power in 2004.
One of the major episodes expected to receive attention is her decision not to become prime minister in 2004, despite the Congress-led alliance winning enough support to form the government. Manmohan Singh instead became prime minister, while Sonia Gandhi remained outside the government and led the alliance.
Why the dispute has become political
The controversy has quickly acquired a political dimension because the reported editorial discussion allegedly involved references to Modi, the BJP’s ideological parent RSS and China.
BJP leader Amit Malviya has already commented on the controversy, questioning the reported need for fact-checking and making a political argument about the distinction between recollection and established fact.
The Congress, meanwhile, has questioned why Penguin’s international arm is proceeding with the global publication if there were concerns about the contents of the book. A Congress spokesperson said the publisher’s position on “fact-checking” was difficult to reconcile with the fact that the same wider Penguin group is publishing the memoir internationally.
Who will publish the book in India?
The Indian publisher has not been definitively announced. HarperCollins was close to finalising an agreement to publish and distribute the memoir in India, while other publishers were also reportedly interested.
However, HarperCollins has not publicly confirmed that an agreement has been finalised.
What is confirmed and what remains disputed?
What is confirmed is that Penguin Random House India is not the publisher of the memoir in India, while Alfred A. Knopf is scheduled to publish the book internationally on November 10.
What remains disputed is the reason for Penguin India’s non-publication and the precise nature of the editorial discussions. Reports have attributed the development to proposed changes in passages concerning Modi, the RSS and China, while Penguin has said that this account does not accurately reflect the circumstances.
As the memoir’s publication date approaches, the book is likely to attract further political attention, particularly because of its first-person account of Sonia Gandhi’s years in Indian public life and the major political events she witnessed.
