New Delhi, August 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Penguin Random House India has rejected reports that it refused to publish Congress leader and author Sonia Gandhi’s memoir ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’ following a disagreement over proposed editorial changes, saying it had remained “willing and keen” to publish the book.
The publisher, however, declined to disclose details of its discussions with Sonia Gandhi, citing confidentiality.
In a statement issued on Friday, Penguin Random House India clarified that it is not the publisher of ‘Belonging’ in India and said reports suggesting it decided against publishing the memoir because Gandhi did not accept editorial recommendations did not accurately represent the circumstances.
“As a publisher, it is both our prerogative and our responsibility to fact-check and provide authors with recommendations that are in the best interests of their books. This is a normal part of the publishing process. Throughout the relevant discussions, Penguin Random House India’s position was that we remained willing and keen to publish the book,” the company said.
It added, “We will not comment further on confidential discussions with the author.”
The clarification comes after media reports claimed that the publishing project did not proceed because of differences over editorial changes.
The memoir is being published by William Collins and is listed by online retailers for release on November 10. The Kindle edition is listed at Rs 2,615.
According to the book description on Amazon, ‘Belonging’ combines Sonia Gandhi’s personal and political experiences to tell the story of her journey from Italy to India.
The narrative begins in Cambridge, England, in 1965, when 19-year-old Sonia Maino met and fell in love with Rajiv Gandhi, grandson of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
The publisher’s description presents the memoir as an account of India’s post-Independence history and its political, economic and social transformation over five decades, viewed through the experiences of a member of one of the country’s best-known political families.
It also promises an intimate account of Sonia Gandhi’s private life, including the experiences and people that shaped her, as well as her reflections on identity, duty and the meaning of home.
At its core, the publisher describes ‘Belonging’ as the story of a woman who fell in love with both a man and a country before rebuilding her life around her relationship with India.
Penguin India says it remained “willing and keen” to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir ‘Belonging’, rejecting reports of an editorial dispute.
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