5 days ago
Congress Leaders Challenge Penguin India Over Sonia Gandhi Memoir
Sonia Gandhi has written a memoir called “Belonging: A Journey of Love.”
The book is planned for release around the world by Alfred A. Knopf on November 10.
It is unclear which company will publish or distribute the book in India.
Several Congress leaders say Penguin India may have faced pressure to remove parts of the book.
Ashok Gehlot said the disputed parts mention Narendra Modi, the RSS and China’s occupation of Indian territory.
The leaders called the alleged pressure a danger to free speech and democracy.
Penguin India says it is not the Indian publisher and that checking facts and suggesting edits are normal publishing duties.
An e-book was nevertheless listed for pre-order in India, and the memoir is expected to discuss Sonia Gandhi’s family, Rajiv Gandhi’s death and her decision not to become prime minister in 2004.
Congress leaders accused Penguin Random House India of blocking Sonia Gandhi’s memoir in India and questioned whether government pressure was involved.
Ashok Gehlot alleged that sections concerning Narendra Modi, the RSS and China’s occupation of Indian territory were targeted for removal.
Penguin Random House India said it is not the Indian publisher and denied that the author’s refusal of editorial changes accurately explained the situation.
Penguin India said fact-checking and editorial recommendations are normal responsibilities and that it remained willing and keen to publish the book.
Alfred A. Knopf scheduled the international release for November 10, while an Amazon listing showed an Indian e-book pre-order for ₹2,615.
- Who
- Sonia Gandhi, Penguin Random House India, Alfred A. Knopf and Congress leaders including Ashok Gehlot, Kamal Nath and Gaurav Gogoi.
- What
- A dispute has emerged over the Indian publication of Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, “Belonging: A Journey of Love,” and alleged editorial pressure.
- Where
- The dispute concerns publication and distribution in India, while the book is scheduled for international release.
- When
- Congress leaders’ reactions were reported on August 28; Alfred A. Knopf announced an international release for November 10.
- Why
- Congress leaders allege that pressure was applied to remove politically sensitive material, while Penguin India cites its fact-checking and editorial responsibilities and declines to discuss confidential talks.
Congress leaders’ allegations
Penguin India’s response
Reason for the Indian publication dispute
Congress leaders’ allegations
Congress leaders alleged that pressure prevented Penguin India from publishing the same version in India that Penguin Worldwide was prepared to release internationally.
Penguin India’s response
Penguin Random House India said it was not the Indian publisher and that claims linking the situation to the author’s rejection of editorial changes did not accurately reflect the circumstances.
Politically sensitive passages
Congress leaders’ allegations
Ashok Gehlot alleged that pressure was applied to remove passages concerning Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and China’s occupation of Indian territory during Modi’s rule.
Penguin India’s response
Penguin India did not confirm those allegations and said it would not comment further on confidential discussions with the author.
Editorial independence
Congress leaders’ allegations
Congress leaders argued that a publisher should not decide what a senior political figure can write and called the alleged conduct a threat to freedom of expression and democracy.
Penguin India’s response
Penguin India said fact-checking authors and providing recommendations in the best interests of a book are its prerogative and responsibility and constitute a normal publishing process.
Key facts
- Book
- “Belonging: A Journey of Love”
- Author
- Sonia Gandhi
- International publisher
- Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House
- International release
- November 10
- Planned initial print run
- One lakh copies, according to Alfred A. Knopf
- Indian e-book listing
- Amazon showed a pre-order price of ₹2,615
- Listed e-book publisher
- William Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins UK
- Indian publisher status
- Penguin Random House India said it is not the Indian publisher; the Indian publisher remains unclear.
Quotes
Ashok Gehlot
Former Rajasthan chief minister and senior Congress leader
“Penguin Worldwide is ready to publish Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji’s upcoming book worldwide in its original form, but Penguin Random House India wants changes made to launch it in India. After all, what is the reason or what pressure is there that what is being published across the world cannot be published in India?”
thestatesman.com
theprint.in
“Will the publisher decide what a senior figure like Mrs. Gandhi will write and what she will not? The question also arises whether the publisher is saying this on its own or if there is pressure from someone on it?”
deccanchronicle.com
Penguin Random House India
Publisher responding in an official 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.”
freepressjournal.in
“Throughout the relevant discussions, Penguin Random House India’s position was that we remained willing and keen to publish the book. We will not comment further on confidential discussions with the author.”
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
Gehlot flags pressure to remove portions on Modi, RSS, Chinese occupation from Sonia’s book
Congress Leaders Question Penguin India Over Sonia Gandhi Memoir, Allege Pressure On Publisher
‘Murder of freedom of expression’: Cong leaders slam Penguin India on Sonia memoir row
‘Murder of Freedom of Expression’: Cong Slams Penguin India Over Sonia Memoir
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