Harpercollins India To Publish Sonia Gandhi's Memoir 'Belonging,' After Penguin Row

(MENAFN- Live Mint) It's official: HarperCollins India will publish 'Belonging: A Journey of Love by Sonia Gandhi,' the publisher announced on Friday. The memoir of veteran Congress leader will now be released in India on 10 November 2026, the publisher said.

The book met roadblocks when the author was in talks with Penguin India for its publication, according to earlier reports published first by Indian Express.

“One of the most anticipated political memoirs of our time, Belonging is a dramatic and deeply personal story of love, identity, duty and belonging, and offers a rare insider's view of India's journey,” HarperCollins India said in a post on social media on 4 September.

Also Read | Cong leaders slam Penguin India over Sonia memoir row

In a earlier 'cover', Alfred A. Knopf announced November 10, 2026, as the release date of the "riveting memoir by one of the world's most prominent women leaders", Sonia Gandhi.

US-based Knopf had emphasised that the book tells a“richly engaging story of love, family, and an endlessly fascinating country: India.”

What went wrong?

The Indian Express reported in an exlusive story that Sonia Gandhi's memoir may no longer be published by Penguin India. The report had quoted unname dsoyces telling that the Penguin Random House India backed out due to certain“editorial changes and deletions” that it wanted in“a part of the manuscript”, which was turned down by the author.

Penguin Random House statement

HarperCollins India describes 'Belonging' as one of the most anticipated political memoirs of our time.

Penguin Random House India issued a statement following the Indian Express export. In a statement, the spokesperson at Penguin Random House India said it's not the publisher of 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', Sonia Gandhi's upcoming memoir, in India.

"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 had said.

Congress had slammed the publisher

Several Congress leaders lashed out at Penguin Random House India over the controversy, accusing it of refusing to publish Sonia Gandhi's memoir in India.

Some senior Congress leaders claimed the pressure was put on the publishing house to remove portions related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and "the occupation of Indian territory by China during Modi's rule".

The RSS is the ideological fountainhead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party in power at the Centre since 2014. The Congress leaders also said the publisher's "refusal" to publish the autobiography is a "murder of freedom of expression" and a matter of grave concern.

Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot was among the first to react.

Murder of freedom of expression

“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?” Gehlot asked.

Sonia Gandhi's life is an example of sacrifice and dedication, and the integrity and dignity with which she has served the country are exemplary, he said.

"Suppressing the book of Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji, a person of such stature, a senior leader of the nation, and former Leader of the Opposition, under pressure is tantamount to the murder of freedom of expression," Gehlot said.

(With agency inputs)

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