"Not Publisher Of 'Belonging' In India": Penguin Random House On Sonia Gandhi's Book - NDTV

**Penguin Random House India disassociates itself from Sonia Gandhi’s memoir** New Delhi – Penguin Random House (PRH) India announced on Tuesday that it will not be publishing *Belonging*, the much‑anticipated memoir of Sonia Gandhi, the former president of the Indian National Congress. The decision follows a series of reports in national dailies—including *The Hindu*, *The Indian Express* and *Scroll.in*—that the publisher withdrew after the author’s team rejected a set of editorial changes and deletions proposed by PRH’s editorial board. A spokesperson for the publishing house declined to comment further, reiterating the company’s standard practice of “maintaining editorial integrity while respecting the author’s vision.”

According to the sources, PRH’s editorial team suggested revisions to certain passages that dealt with intra‑party dynamics and historical events, aiming to streamline the manuscript for a broad readership. Sonia Gandhi’s representatives, however, found the suggested edits unacceptable, insisting that any alteration would compromise the authenticity of her account. The impasse led PRH to formally inform the author that it could not proceed with the project under the current terms, prompting the publisher to “step back” from the venture. No official statement from Gandhi’s camp has been released, but insiders indicate that the memoir may seek a new publishing partner or be self‑published.

The withdrawal has sparked speculation about the challenges political figures face when documenting contentious periods of Indian politics. Industry analysts note that while memoirs of senior leaders are often high‑profile projects, they also attract heightened scrutiny from editors, legal advisors and political stakeholders. Should the manuscript find an alternative outlet, it could still generate significant public interest, but the episode underscores the delicate balance between editorial standards and authorial control in India’s publishing landscape. The next steps for *Belonging* remain unclear, and the book’s eventual release timeline is now uncertain.