HarperCollins India to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir “Belonging” after Penguin series | Today’s news
It’s official: HarperCollins India will publish ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love by Sonia Gandhi,’ the publisher announced on Friday. The Congress veteran’s memoir will now be released in India on November 10, 2026, the publisher said.
The book ran into hurdles when the author was negotiating with Penguin India to publish it, according to earlier reports first published by the 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 social media post on May 4.
Read also | Congolese leaders criticize Penguin India over Sonia series of memoirs
In an earlier “envelope” Alfred A. Knopf announced November 10, 2026 as the release date for “a riveting memoir by one of the world’s foremost female leaders.” Sonia Gandhi.
US-based Knopf emphasized that the book tells “a richly engaging story of love, family and an endlessly fascinating country: India”.
What went wrong?
The Indian Express said in an exclusive story that Sonia Gandhi’s memoirs may no longer be published Penguin of India. The report quoted unnamed dsoyces as saying that Penguin Random House India had backed out because of certain “editorial changes and deletions” it wanted in “parts of the manuscript”, which the author refused.
Statement by Penguin Random House
HarperCollins India describes “Belonging” as one of the most anticipated political memoirs of our time.
Random Penguin House India issued a statement after the Indian Express export. In a statement, a spokesperson for Penguin Random House India said it is not the publisher of ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, Sonia Gandhi’s forthcoming memoir, in India.
“Penguin Random House India is not the publisher of Belonging in India. Any suggestion that Penguin Random House India chose not to publish Belonging because the author rejected editorial changes does not accurately reflect the circumstances,” the company said.
Congress criticized the publisher
Several Congress leaders attacked Penguin Random House India over the controversy, accusing it of refusing to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoirs in India.
Some senior Congress leaders alleged that the publisher was pressured to remove sections related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and “China’s occupation of Indian territory during Modi’s rule”.
RSS is an ideological source Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party in power at the Center since 2014. Congress leaders also said the publisher’s “refusal” to release the autobiography was 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 free speech
“Penguin Worldwide is all set to release Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s upcoming book worldwide in its original form, but Penguin Random House India wants to make changes so that it can be released in India. After all, what is the reason or what is the pressure that what is published worldwide 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 served the country is exemplary, he said.
“Suppressing the book of Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji, a person of such status, a senior leader of the nation and former leader of the opposition, under pressure is tantamount to murder freedom of expression” said Gehlot.
