Penguin Random House India declines to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir in India

Several Congress leaders on Friday questioned Penguin Random House India (PRHI) over the publication of Sonia Gandhi's memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love in India, with some alleging pressure on the publishing house and accusing it of compromising freedom of expression.The criticism came after Penguin India said it was not the Indian publisher of Gandhi's memoir and denied reports that it had decided against publishing the book because the Congress leader declined proposed editorial changes.Gehlot alleges pressure over Modi, RSS referencesSenior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot questioned what prevented the publishing house from releasing in India the same book being published internationally.“What is this reason or pressure that prevents them from printing in India what is being printed worldwide?” Gehlot said in a post on X.He alleged that pressure had been put on Penguin India to remove sections relating to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and China's alleged occupation of Indian territory during the Modi government.“Pressuring and stopping the book of such a personality-rich, senior politician of the country and former Leader of the Opposition, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, is akin to murdering the freedom of expression,” Gehlot said.“This is the murder of democracy. Why is this truth being hidden from the people of India? Will the Modi government also force publishers to alter facts under pressure?” he asked.Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath described the reported refusal to publish the memoir as a matter of “grave concern”.“Will the publisher decide what a senior figure like Mrs Gandhi will write and what she will not? The question also arises whether the publisher is saying this on its own or if there is pressure from someone on it?” Nath said in a post on X.हमारी नेता आदरणीय श्रीमती सोनिया गांधी जी की आत्मकथा के प्रकाशन से प्रकाशक का मना करना अत्यंत चिंता का विषय है।क्या श्रीमती गांधी जैसा वरिष्ठ व्यक्ति क्या लिखेगा और क्या नहीं, यह प्रकाशक तय करेगा? सवाल यह भी है कि प्रकाशक स्वयं यह कह रहा है या उस पर किसी का दबाव है?इससे पहले… pic.twitter.com/82VZlbB6OH— Kamal Nath (@OfficeOfKNath) August 28, 2026He said the trend of books being stopped from publication under “suspicious circumstances” posed a serious threat to freedom of expression and called for Gandhi's memoir to be published soon.Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi described Penguin India's statement as “weak”.“Penguin India is more than happy to publish 'Exam Warriors' and several books on RSS. No doubt there are those in the BJP government who have now become afraid of a book being read by the people of India,” Gogoi said on X.Such a weak statement.Penguin India is more than happy to publish “Exam Warriors” and several books on RSS. No doubt there are those in the BJP government who have now become afraid of a book being being read by the people of India. https://t.co/JvmXD8FZV6— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) August 28, 2026Congress Seva Dal chief Srinivas BV also criticised the publishing house, saying its statement on “editorial independence” was unconvincing. The Seva Dal's official X account separately described Penguin India as “Paltu Penguin”.The Indian Youth Congress questioned the editorial changes sought by the publishing house, saying, “Nobody asked whether you were ‘keen’. Tell us what changes you wanted, and why. The rest is corporate grammar.”The organisation also posted “Introducing Penguin Janta Party” and “Penguin hai ya pinjare ka parinda” on X.Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba accused Penguin and PRHI of resorting to “blackmailing tactics” and praised Gandhi for refusing to “bow down”.The Congress's Kerala unit also took a swipe at the government, posting, “Peacock blocking penguin is just an old man's fantasy. Nothing can stop 'Belonging' from reaching you.”Penguin says editorial recommendations are routinePenguin Random House India said it was not the publisher of Belonging in India and disputed reports about why it had not published the memoir.“Penguin Random House India is not the publisher of Belonging in India. Any suggestion that Penguin Random House India decided not to publish Belonging because the author declined editorial changes does not accurately reflect the circumstances,” it said in an official statement.The publishing house said fact-checking and making editorial recommendations were part of the normal publishing process.“As a publisher, it is both our prerogative and our responsibility to fact check and provide authors with recommendations that are in the best interests of their books. This is a normal part of the publishing process,” it said.Penguin India added that it had remained “willing and keen to publish the book” throughout the relevant discussions and said it would not comment further on “confidential discussions with the author”.In June, PRHI dropped journalist and author Joe Sacco's graphic novel on the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots after taking into account "local legal, regulatory, commercial, and market considerations".Reports suggested that the publisher had stopped distribution of the book over "an inaccurate map" and that "no changes are forthcoming" from the originating publisher.The publisher had also made headlines in February after saying it had "not printed" former Army Chief General M M Naravane's memoir Four Stars of Destiny, days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi flashed a hard copy of the book in Parliament.Kashmiri Girls Tie Rakhis To Army Jawans, Heartwarming Video Wins Praise OnlineIndian publisher unclear, international release in NovemberThe identity of the Indian publisher of Gandhi's memoir remains unclear. An e-book edition of Belonging was, however, listed for pre-order on Amazon at ₹2,615.According to the Amazon listing, the e-book is published by William Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins UK.The book is scheduled for international release on Nov 10 through Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Knopf has announced an initial print run of one lakh copies.According to Knopf, the 79-year-old Congress leader's memoir will recount her journey from marrying into one of India's most prominent political families to the death of her husband Rajiv Gandhi, which pushed her into the “public world of politics”. It will also reportedly cover her decision to turn down the Prime Minister's post in 2004.

New Delhi: Penguin Random House India has responded to the reports surrounding opting out of publishing Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's memoir 'Belonging: A Journey of Love' in India. The publisher has been categorical in its response, stating, "It's not the publisher of 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', Sonia Gandhi's upcoming memoir, in India."Penguin's statement comes amid reports that the publisher backed out after Gandhi refused "editorial" changes. The publisher said the reports "do not accurately reflect the circumstances.""Penguin Random House India is not the publisher of 'Belonging' in India. Any suggestion that Penguin Random House India decided not to publish 'Belonging' because the author declined editorial changes does not accurately reflect the circumstances," the statement posted on X read.Penguin Random House India official statement. pic.twitter.com/2g8y3F1p7m— Penguin India (@PenguinIndia) August 28, 2026 Penguin also said that, as publisher, it is their prerogative as well as responsibility to fact-check and provide authors with recommendations that are in the best interests of their books, calling it "a normal part" of the publishing process."Throughout the relevant discussions, Penguin Random House India's position was that we remained willing and keen to publish the book," the publisher said.'Since The Day Papa Left...': Rahul Gandhi Pens Heartfelt Note For Mother Sonia On Father Rajiv Gandhi's BirthdayThey also said that they will not comment further on "confidential discussions with the author."Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi lashed out at Penguin, calling its response a "weak statement," adding that "Penguin India is more than happy to publish 'Exam Warriors' and several books on RSS."Such a weak statement.Penguin India is more than happy to publish “Exam Warriors” and several books on RSS. No doubt there are those in the BJP government who have now become afraid of a book being being read by the people of India. https://t.co/JvmXD8FZV6— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) August 28, 2026 'Exam Warriors' is a book by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which was published in 2018. 'Exam Warriors' is written for young students to help them deal with the stress of exams."No doubt there are those in the BJP government who have now become afraid of a book being being read by the people of India," he added.With Penguin India pulling out, several publishers are said to be interested in the book. HarperCollins is reportedly close to finalising an agreement to publish and distribute the memoir in India, Hindustan Times reported.The memoir is scheduled for an international release on November 10 through Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Knopf earlier announced an initial print run of 1 lakh copies.Belonging: A Journey of Love is expected to narrate Sonia Gandhi’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her move to India and marriage to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Penguin Random House India (PRHI) will reportedly not publish Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s much-anticipated memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love in India after a disagreement over proposed editorial changes to the manuscript.According to Indian Express, sources had said that the decision followed PRHI’s request for certain “editorial changes and deletions” in “a part of the manuscript”, which were rejected by Gandhi.With Penguin India out of the picture, several publishers are reportedly in the race to publish and distribute the memoir in India. According to multiple reports, HarperCollins is said to be close to finalising an agreement, although no final deal has been officially announced.The reported disagreement concerns the Indian publication of the memoir and does not indicate any change to its international release. Belonging: A Journey of Love is scheduled to be released on November 10, 2026, through Alfred A Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House. Knopf has announced an initial print run of 100,000 copies.The memoir is expected to trace Gandhi’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her move to India, her marriage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and her life with the Nehru-Gandhi family. It is also expected to recount major personal tragedies, including the deaths of Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, as well as her entry into public life.The memoir is also expected to address Sonia’s decision not to become prime minister after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance came to power following the 2004 Lok Sabha election.In the publisher’s announcement, Sonia said, “Much has been written about my family, but few narratives were able to reach into the truth of their motivations, their actions and even their human failings…My story also offers readers a unique perspective of the social and political changes I have witnessed for six decades.” Knopf described the book as a memoir offering a personal account of love, family and India.Rahul Gandhi also reacted to the forthcoming memoir, addressing his mother as “Mama” and recalling the years following Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in 1991. He wrote, “Since the day Papa left, I have watched you face everything life threw at you with never-ending courage and dignity.” Rahul Gandhi said he was proud that Sonia Gandhi had chosen to share her story with millions of people who had followed and supported her. He also referred to the difficulty of writing publicly about a life she had largely kept private.The latest development comes amid other recent publishing controversies involving Penguin Random House India. PRHI earlier this year said it had “not printed” former Army chief General M M Naravane’s memoir Four Stars of Destiny, after a hard copy was displayed by Rahul Gandhi in Parliament. Media reports had carried excerpts from the manuscript concerning the Galwan clashes and the Agnipath scheme.In June, PRHI also pulled the plug on graphic novelist Joe Sacco’s book The Once and Future Riot, about the Muzaffarnagar riots. PRHI CEO Gaurav Shrinagesh had then said the publisher had raised “content issues” with the author during legal scrutiny, including concerns over a map showing inaccurate boundaries of India. This report was republished from The News Minute as part of The News Minute-Newslaundry alliance. Read about our partnership here and become a subscriber here.

The statement from Penguin comes amid reports that the publisher backed out after Sonia Gandhi refused "editorial" changes.

New Delhi: Penguin Random House India (PRHI), the largest English-language trade publisher in the Indian subcontinent, has reportedly decided not to publish Congress MP Sonia Gandhi’s much-anticipated memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love. This comes after a disagreement with the author over proposed editorial changes to the manuscript.The memoir was scheduled for an international release on November 10 through Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Knopf earlier announced an initial print run of 1 lakh copies.Reportedly, PRHI had sought specific changes and deletions in a section of the memoir. Gandhi, however, rejected the proposed alterations and declined to make any modifications or omissions to her text. The disagreement ultimately led the Indian arm of the global publishing house to withdraw from the project.With Penguin India pulling out, several publishers are said to be interested in the book. HarperCollins is reportedly close to finalising an agreement to publish and distribute the memoir in India.The development is not expected to affect the book’s international publication. The memoir is scheduled for a global release on November 10, 2026, and will be published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House.Penguin Random House Clarifies On Ex-Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane Memoir Leak, Says 'No Copies Published'; Vows ActionBelonging: A Journey of Love is expected to narrate Sonia Gandhi’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her move to India and marriage to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.Earlier this year, the publisher said it had “not printed” former Army chief General M M Naravane’s memoir Four Stars of Destiny, after a copy of the book was displayed by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in Parliament.