Why Did Penguin India Pull Out of Publishing Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir ‘Belonging’?

Penguin Random House India has reportedly withdrawn from publishing Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi's memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love," in India, following a disagreement with the veteran Congress leader over "editorial changes and deletions" the publisher had sought in a section of the manuscript. According to a report by The Indian Express, Sonia Gandhi declined to accept the proposed edits, leading Penguin India to step away from the domestic release even as the book remains on track for its international launch on November 10 through Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House, which had announced an initial print run of one lakh copies.

HarperCollins Likely to Step In

Several publishing houses have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the Indian rights to the memoir after Penguin India's exit from the project. HarperCollins is said to be close to finalising a deal to publish and distribute the book within the country, though an official confirmation is still awaited. ‘Four Stars of Destiny’: Delhi Police Serves Notice to Penguin India as Controversy Over MM Naravane’s Unpublished Memoir Escalates.

What the Memoir Covers

"Belonging: A Journey of Love" traces Sonia Gandhi's life journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her arrival in India and her marriage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The memoir is expected to recount the deaths of Sanjay Gandhi, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, along with Sonia Gandhi's entry into public life and her decades at the centre of one of India's most influential political families. It is also likely to address her decision not to become Prime Minister after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance won the 2004 Lok Sabha election. 'Four Stars of Destiny': Penguin India Issues Clarification After Political Row, Says MM Naravane’s Memoir Not Published; Warns of Legal Action Over Fake Copies.

In the publisher's announcement, Sonia Gandhi 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." She also acknowledged that writing the memoir meant stepping beyond the privacy she had guarded for decades.

Rahul Gandhi's Tribute

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently spoke about the memoir while paying tribute to his father on Rajiv Gandhi's 82nd birth anniversary. Writing on X, he said, "Since the day Papa left, I have watched you face everything life threw at you with never-ending courage and dignity. Only Priyanka and I really know what you have been through, and how difficult your life after Papa truly was." He added, "I know how hard it was for someone as private as you to tell the world your beautiful story."

Not Penguin India's First Such Row

This is not the first publishing controversy involving Penguin India this year. The publisher had earlier said it had "not printed" former Army chief General M M Naravane's memoir, "Four Stars of Destiny," after Rahul Gandhi displayed a copy in Parliament. Media reports had previously published excerpts from the book related to the Galwan clashes and the Agnipath military recruitment scheme.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 28, 2026 10:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).