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Sonia Gandhi’s Book Deal Collapses After Penguin India Cut Requests
Sonia Gandhi has written a memoir called “Belonging.”
Penguin Random House India was supposed to publish and distribute it in India.
Its lawyers reportedly asked for changes and cuts in several chapters.
Some of the passages concerned Indian politics, the RSS, riots and the treatment of minorities.
Sonia Gandhi’s team reportedly felt that too many edits could make the Indian book different from the worldwide edition.
The two sides discussed the issues for at least two months.
Penguin said it had not faced outside pressure and that editing and fact-checking are normal.
The deal ended after they could not agree on one issue.
HarperCollins was reportedly close to taking over the book’s publication in India.
Penguin Random House India lawyers sought changes and deletions in several chapters of Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, “Belonging.”
The reported objections involved references to Narendra Modi’s 12-year rule, the RSS, communal violence and minorities.
Negotiations lasted at least two months, beginning cordially but becoming strained toward the end.
Sonia Gandhi’s team reportedly opposed the edits as excessive and warned they could make the Indian edition differ from the global version.
The PRHI deal collapsed after an unresolved issue, while HarperCollins was reportedly close to an India publishing agreement.
- Who
- Sonia Gandhi, Penguin Random House India, Alfred A. Knopf and reportedly HarperCollins; the disputed passages concern Narendra Modi and the RSS.
- What
- A planned Indian publishing deal for Gandhi’s memoir “Belonging” collapsed after negotiations over requested changes and deletions.
- Where
- India, where Penguin Random House India was to publish and distribute the memoir.
- When
- The discussions lasted at least two months and the deal fell through a few days before the reports; the book was scheduled for release on November 10.
- Why
- The sides could not reach an understanding on a particular issue after disagreements over editorial changes and deletions.
Sonia Gandhi’s Team
Penguin Random House India
Editorial changes
Sonia Gandhi’s Team
Gandhi’s side reportedly considered PRHI’s lawyers over-sensitive and objected to the number of proposed edits and deletions.
Penguin Random House India
PRHI said fact-checking and editorial recommendations are normal in publishing, and that some changes were agreed to while others were accepted according to the author’s position.
Indian and global editions
Sonia Gandhi’s Team
Gandhi’s team reportedly argued that extensive edits could make the Indian edition differ from the global text, forcing readers to compare versions to identify changes.
Penguin Random House India
PRHI said the deal did not end simply because the author declined editorial changes and did not disclose confidential details about the disagreement.
Reason the deal collapsed
Sonia Gandhi’s Team
The author’s team ultimately decided not to proceed after the sides failed to resolve a particular issue.
Penguin Random House India
PRHI said there was no external pressure, that it was keen to publish the book, and that it respected the author team’s decision not to proceed.
Key facts
- Book
- “Belonging,” a memoir by Sonia Gandhi
- Global publisher
- Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House
- Planned Indian publisher
- Penguin Random House India
- Reportedly disputed topics
- Narendra Modi’s 12-year rule, the RSS, communal divide and riots, and the plight of minorities
- Negotiation period
- At least two months
- Release date
- November 10
- First print run
- 100,000 copies
- Potential new Indian publisher
- HarperCollins was reportedly close to finalising an agreement
Sources
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