Sonia Gandhi's Memoir Faces Controversy as Penguin India Denies Withdrawal

Imphal, India Aug 29, 2026 ALN: Penguin Random House India (PRHI) has denied reports suggesting it backed out of publishing Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love in India. The publisher clarified that any assertion regarding its withdrawal due to Gandhi's refusal to accept editorial changes does not accurately represent the situation.

The statement comes in the wake of criticism from several Congress leaders, who accused the publishing house of infringing on freedom of expression and questioned whether it faced external pressures to modify the memoir.

Earlier this month, Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House, announced that the memoir is set for release on November 10.

PRHI emphasized that it is not the publisher of Belonging in India and rejected claims that it opted out due to editorial disagreements. "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 stated.

The publishing house expressed its willingness to publish the book, asserting that fact-checking and editorial recommendations are standard practices in the publishing industry.

Following a report in The Indian Express that claimed PRHI had withdrawn after Gandhi refused proposed editorial changes, Congress leaders reacted strongly. They questioned why the memoir could be published internationally without alterations but faced hurdles in India.

Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot alleged that PRH's global arm was prepared to publish the memoir in its original form, while the Indian division sought modifications. "What is the reason or pressure that prevents them from printing in India what is being printed worldwide?" Gehlot questioned in a post on X.

Gehlot further alleged, without providing evidence, that there was pressure on Penguin India to remove sections regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and China's alleged occupation of Indian territory during Modi's administration.

He characterized the alleged attempts to alter the book as a "murder of freedom of expression" and raised concerns about potential government influence over publishers.

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath also expressed grave concern over the reported refusal to publish the memoir. "Will the publisher decide what a senior figure like Mrs. Gandhi will write and what she will not?" Nath questioned on X, raising doubts about the publisher's independence.

Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi criticized PRHI's statement, labeling it "weak". He pointed out that Penguin India is willing to publish books like Exam Warriors and several works on the RSS, suggesting that the BJP government might be apprehensive about a book that could resonate with the Indian populace.

Other Congress leaders and affiliated organizations also took to social media to criticize the publishing house, using terms like "Paltu Penguin" and "Penguin Janta Party" while questioning the publisher's claims of editorial independence.

Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba accused PRHI of employing "blackmailing tactics", while the Indian Youth Congress demanded transparency regarding the changes sought from Gandhi.

Amidst the controversy, the status of the memoir's distribution in India remains uncertain. An Amazon listing shows an e-book edition of Belonging available for pre-order at Rs 2,615, identifying William Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins UK, as the publisher.

The memoir's India release has been a topic of speculation since Knopf's announcement. According to Alfred A Knopf, the memoir will provide an intimate account of Gandhi's life, covering her childhood in post-war Italy, her romance with Rajiv Gandhi, the assassination of her husband, and her entry into public life, including her decision to decline the prime minister's position in 2004.

Gandhi, 79, has rarely spoken extensively about her private life in public. Knopf describes the book as a narrative that spans her childhood, marriage into a prominent political family, and the personal losses that shaped her life and political journey.

This latest controversy follows previous scrutiny faced by PRHI over other publications. In June, the publisher announced it had dropped journalist Joe Sacco's graphic novel on the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots after considering "local legal, regulatory, commercial, and market considerations". Reports suggested the decision was linked to an inaccurate map, a claim the originating publisher reportedly declined to address.

In February, PRHI also stated it had "not printed" former Army Chief General M M Naravane's memoir, Four Stars of Destiny, shortly after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi showcased a hard copy of the book in Parliament.