New Delhi – Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s highly anticipated memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love in India, has hit a snag in its Indian publication. Penguin Random House India (PRHI) has decided to pull out of the project after Gandhi declined to accept certain editorial changes and deletions requested by the publisher.
Publication Setback for 'Belonging'
Sources familiar with the development, as reported by The Indian Express, indicate that PRHI had sought specific alterations to parts of the manuscript. However, Sonia Gandhi, who described the book as a deeply personal account of her life and family, rejected these proposed changes, leading to Penguin India's withdrawal from handling the memoir's Indian publication and distribution.
The nature of the specific editorial changes requested by PRHI has not been disclosed by either party. Queries sent to Alfred A Knopf, the US-based publisher, Gandhi’s literary agent David Godwin, and PRHI CEO Gaurav Shrinagesh reportedly went unanswered.
HarperCollins Reportedly in the Running
With Penguin India's exit, other major publishing houses are now reportedly in contention for the Indian rights. HarperCollins is believed to be in advanced discussions to take over the project, aiming to secure the publication and distribution of the memoir in India.
International Release Proceeds
Despite the setback in India, the international release of Belonging: A Journey of Love in India remains on schedule. Alfred A Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House, is set to release the book globally on November 10, with an initial print run of 100,000 copies.
Sonia Gandhi has previously stated that while much has been written about her family, few accounts have truly explored their motivations, actions, and human failings. Her memoir aims to offer readers a unique perspective on the social and political transformations she has witnessed over six decades of her life in India.