HarperCollins India has announced that it will publish the memoirs of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on November 10, despite Penguin Random House India declining to publish the book due to disagreements over editorial changes.
Sonia Gandhi's memoirs, titled 'Belonging: A Journey of Love,' are scheduled for a global release on November 10. The book will detail Gandhi's journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to life in India, her marriage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and the decades she spent at the heart of Indian politics. HarperCollins described the Congress leader's work as 'one of the most anticipated political memoirs of our time,' noting that the book offers 'a rare insider's view of India's journey.'
Previously, The Indian Express reported last week that Sonia Gandhi's memoirs might not be published by Penguin India. Sources told the media resource that the reason was Penguin Random House India's demand to make certain 'editorial changes and deletions' to 'part of the manuscript,' which the author rejected.
In a statement, a representative of Penguin Random House India clarified that the company is not the publisher of Sonia Gandhi's upcoming memoirs 'Belonging: A Journey of Love' in India. The company stated: 'Penguin Random House India is not the publisher of Belonging in India. Any assumption that Penguin Random House India decided not to publish Belonging because the author refused editorial changes does not accurately reflect the circumstances.'
This dispute sparked political resonance, as Congress leaders claim that Penguin India was attempting to force the removal of excerpts concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and relations between India and China.