Archive · 4 Sep 2026
HarperCollins India Takes Over Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Publication
Sonia Gandhi has written a memoir called Belonging: A Journey of Love.
It tells about her childhood in Italy, her life in India and her long involvement in politics.
Penguin Random House India was expected to publish the book in India, but that arrangement ended.
Reports said the publisher and Gandhi’s team disagreed about changes to parts of the manuscript.
Penguin said publishers normally fact-check books and suggest edits, and denied that outside pressure caused the disagreement.
The publisher said the talks ended over a confidential particular issue.
Congress leaders alleged that political pressure may have been involved, but BJP and government representatives rejected that explanation.
HarperCollins India will now publish the Indian edition on November 10, 2026.
HarperCollins India will publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love in India.
The Indian edition is scheduled for November 10, 2026, alongside the worldwide release.
Penguin Random House India will not publish the memoir domestically after talks with Gandhi’s team reached an impasse.
Reports attributed the dispute to proposed editorial changes and deletions, while Penguin said that explanation did not accurately reflect the circumstances.
Congress leaders alleged political pressure over passages involving Narendra Modi, the RSS and India-China relations; Penguin and BJP-linked representatives rejected the claim.
- Who
- Sonia Gandhi, HarperCollins India and Penguin Random House India are central to the publishing dispute.
- What
- HarperCollins India will publish Belonging: A Journey of Love in India after Penguin Random House India’s arrangement ended.
- When
- HarperCollins announced the new Indian publisher on September 4, 2026; the book is scheduled for worldwide release on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- The new publishing arrangement concerns the Indian edition; Alfred A. Knopf is publishing the US edition and William Collins the UK edition.
- Why
- Reports said the sides disagreed over proposed manuscript changes and deletions, while Penguin said discussions reached an impasse over a confidential particular issue.
Congress Leaders and Critics
Penguin Random House India and Its Defenders
Reason for the publisher change
Congress Leaders and Critics
Reports and Congress leaders said the arrangement ended after disagreement over editorial changes and deletions that Gandhi’s team was unwilling to accept.
Penguin Random House India and Its Defenders
Penguin said it did not stop publishing the book simply because the author declined editorial changes, and said the discussions ended over a confidential particular issue.
Political pressure
Congress Leaders and Critics
Congress leaders, including Ashok Gehlot, alleged that pressure was applied over passages concerning Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and India-China relations.
Penguin Random House India and Its Defenders
Penguin Random House India categorically denied external interference, while BJP and government representatives rejected the pressure narrative.
Editorial independence
Congress Leaders and Critics
Congress leaders described the alleged refusal to publish the memoir as a serious threat to freedom of expression and called it a murder of democracy.
Penguin Random House India and Its Defenders
Penguin said fact-checking and recommending editorial changes are normal publisher responsibilities and maintained that it had been willing and keen to publish.
- Book
- Belonging: A Journey of Love by Sonia Gandhi
- Indian publisher
- HarperCollins India
- Indian release date
- November 10, 2026
- US publisher
- Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House
- UK publisher
- William Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- Reported dispute
- Reports said Penguin sought editorial changes and deletions in parts of the manuscript.
- Penguin’s position
- Penguin Random House India denied external pressure, described editorial recommendations and fact-checking as routine, and said it remained willing to publish the book.
Sources
Sonia Gandhi's 'Belonging' Gets New Publisher HarperCollins After Penguin Backs Out
Penguin dropped it, HarperCollins saved it. Sonia Gandhi’s ‘Belonging’ to release on 10 November
HarperCollins India to publish Sonia Gandhi memoir ‘Belonging’ on November 10 after Penguin exit - Telegraph India
HarperCollins bags rights to publish Sonia memoir in India
HarperCollins India to publish Sonia Gandhi's memoir, book to be released on Nov 10
HarperCollins to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir ‘Belonging’ in India after Penguin backs out
Sonia Gandhi's Memoir To Be Published By HarperCollins On Nov 10 After Penguin India Backs Out
HarperCollins India to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir ‘Belonging,’ after Penguin row
Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir ‘Belonging’ Gets New Publisher; HarperCollins To Release Book On November 10
