Sonia Gandhi’s memoir finds new publisher as HarperCollins steps in amid Penguin row

The memoir is scheduled for global publication on November 10 and will trace Gandhi’s life from her childhood in post-war Italy to her years in India, including her marriage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and her long career at the centre of Indian politics.

HarperCollins described the book as “one of the most anticipated political memoirs of our time” and said it would provide a “rare insider’s view of India’s journey”.

HarperCollins takes over Indian publication

The announcement comes after Penguin Random House India confirmed that it would not publish the memoir in India, triggering a political controversy over the reasons behind the decision.

Reports had suggested that Penguin India sought editorial changes, including deletions from sections of the manuscript, but Gandhi’s team did not agree to the proposed alterations.

The book’s publication plans first came into focus after US publisher Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House, announced that Belonging: A Journey of Love would be released globally on November 10.

Penguin India subsequently clarified that it was not the publisher of the book in India.

HarperCollins India has now stepped in to publish the memoir in the country.

Congress leaders allege pressure on Penguin

The dispute over the Indian publication of the book quickly became a political issue, with Congress leaders alleging that Penguin India had sought the removal of passages concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and India-China relations.

Congress leaders also alleged that the publisher had come under external pressure over the contents of the memoir.

Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot alleged that Penguin India had been pressured to remove passages relating to Modi, the RSS and China’s occupation of Indian territory during Modi’s tenure.

Gehlot described the alleged action as “the murder of democracy”.

Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi also criticised the publisher, saying, “No doubt there are those in the BJP government who have now become afraid of a book being read by the people of India.”

The Congress leaders’ allegations intensified the controversy surrounding the book’s publication and the circumstances behind Penguin India’s decision.

Penguin denies external pressure

Penguin Random House India, however, rejected the suggestion that external pressure influenced its decision not to publish the memoir.

A representative of the publisher said the book was one that Penguin was “really keen on publishing” and described it as a “hard-won acquisition”.

The publisher said discussions between the two sides reached an impasse over “a particular issue”, but denied that any outside influence was involved.

“Since the content of the book is confidential and under embargo, there was no external pressure whatsoever,” the representative said.

According to Penguin India, the disagreement centred on one unresolved issue and the decision not to proceed ultimately came from Gandhi’s team.

The publisher said the two sides were unable to reach an understanding on the matter and that it was Gandhi’s team that informed Penguin that they did not wish to continue with the publication.

Memoir to chronicle Gandhi’s life and political journey

Belonging: A Journey of Love will cover Gandhi’s journey from her upbringing in post-war Italy to her life in India and her entry into one of the country’s most prominent political families.

The memoir will also recount her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi and her decades-long presence in Indian politics.