Penguin Random House India has rejected reports that it withdrew from publishing Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s much-awaited memoir after she refused editorial changes and deletions proposed by the publisher.
In a statement posted on its X account on Saturday, the publishing house clarified that it is not the publisher of Belonging: A Journey of Love in India. It also said reports claiming that the book was dropped because Gandhi rejected editorial suggestions were inaccurate.
“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 company said.
The clarification came after The Indian Express reported that Penguin Random House India had stepped away from the project after Gandhi rejected proposed edits and deletions in parts of the manuscript.
Penguin India said that fact-checking manuscripts and offering editorial suggestions are standard aspects of the 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,” it said.
The publisher also maintained that during its discussions with the author, it remained “willing and keen to publish the book”.
CONGRESS QUESTIONS WHY NO PUBLICATION IN INDIA
Congress leaders, including former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and Lok Sabha deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi, criticised Penguin Random House India over reports that it would not publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir in its original form.
Gehlot alleged that pressure had been placed on the publisher to remove sections dealing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the RSS and China’s occupation of Indian territory. He questioned what “reason or pressure” was preventing the book from being published in India.
Describing the development as “the murder of democracy”, Gehlot said it posed a threat to freedom of expression. Kamal Nath called it a “serious threat”, while Gogoi described Penguin India’s statement as “weak” and raised questions over alleged government pressure.
LIFE AND TIMES OF SONIA GANDHI
The memoir is expected to provide an extensive account of Sonia Gandhi’s life. It was initially announced for publication in the US by Alfred A Knopf, a Penguin Random House-owned imprint. The book is scheduled to be released on November 10, 2026, with an initial print run of 100,000 copies.
Belonging follows Gandhi’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her life in India after marrying Rajiv Gandhi. It also covers her years as the daughter-in-law of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The memoir details her eventual entry into politics after years of resisting calls to enter public life. It also recounts her decision in 2004 to turn down the post of prime minister after the Congress-led alliance won the general election.
In an earlier statement issued by Knopf, Gandhi said the book would give readers her perspective on the social and political transformations she witnessed during more than six decades in India. She described India as “the beautiful country of my belonging”.
The memoir has generated significant interest as Gandhi has largely avoided writing a traditional autobiography. Although she has previously written and edited books, those involved in the memoir have described it as “her most personal and definitive account of her life”.
Knopf has characterised Belonging as a memoir centred on “love, family” and India, and described Gandhi as one of the world’s most prominent women leaders.
Despite Penguin India’s clarification, the exact status of the book’s publication in India remains uncertain. The Express report said that several leading publishers are now competing for the Indian publishing rights.
