Sonia Gandhi's memoir: Penguin India says not publishing 'Belonging'

Penguin Random House India on Friday (August 28) said it is not publishing Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s much-awaited memoir, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love in India’.

In a statement, Penguin said it was "willing and keen" to publish and added that reports of the decision due to "editorial changes" did not "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 company said in a statement.

"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. Throughout the relevant discussions, Penguin Random House India's position was that we remained willing and keen to publish the book," it added.

Publishers seek India rights

With Penguin India out, several Indian publishers are pursuing the rights. Harper Collins is reportedly close to an agreement to publish and distribute the book in India.

The memoir is scheduled for release on November 10. US-based Alfred A Knopf, a Penguin Random House division, had announced the publication and said the first print run would be 100,000 copies.

Also Read: Sonia's Memoir BELONGING likely to delve into life beyond Gandhis, politics

Sonia has previously written and edited books. Those who worked on this project described it as her most personal and definitive account of her life. Knopf called it a “riveting memoir by one of the world’s most prominent women leaders that tells a richly engaging story of love, family, and an endlessly fascinating country: India.”

Sonia’s account of her life

“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,” the Knopf release quoted Sonia as saying.

Also Read: BJP slams Sonia’s article, says paper leaks also happened in Cong regime

Earlier this year, Penguin Random House India said it had “not printed” former Army Chief General M M Naravane’s memoir, “Four Stars of Destiny,” though Rahul Gandhi showed a hard copy in Parliament. Media reports carried excerpts on the Galwan clashes and Agnipath scheme.

Earlier publishing disputes

In June, the Indian Express reported that Penguin Random House India had dropped Joe Sacco’s The Once and Future Riot over “content issues” raised during legal scrutiny, including inaccurate Indian boundaries on a map.