HarperCollins India has obtained the publishing rights for Sonia Gandhi’s anticipated memoir, “Belonging: A Journey of Love,” which is set to be released on November 10, 2026. This development follows a recent split with Penguin Random House India. The decision comes after weeks of industry speculation regarding the book’s availability in Indian bookstores.
Though initially it was rumored that there were issues with editorial recommendations on manuscript changes leading to the deadlock, Penguin explained that it was a deadlock in some confidential conversations. Her private life went topsy-turvy after the assassination of her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, and seven years later, the assassination of her husband, Rajiv Gandhi. Through Knopf’s official statement, the 79-year-old political leader said that her book takes the readers into the depths of her humanity behind her family’s public persona.
There was an unresolved deadlock on some editorial recommendations leading to the parting ways, according to Penguin Random House India. Penguin said that despite being willing to manage the publication of the book, it was impossible to reconcile standard fact-checking and editorial prerogatives.
The heartbreak and losses compelled her to come out of her strictly guarded privacy and assume the leadership of the Indian National Congress party. The publisher though denied any such motive behind the move. Because the author declined editorial changes does not accurately reflect the circumstances,” the company said in a statement last week, any suggestion that Penguin Random House India decided not to publish Belonging.
She held the position of the party’s longest-serving president but never accepted the position of the prime minister before her party lost power to Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the BJP in 2014.
Earlier reporting noted: Last week, Penguin Random House India said it is not the publisher of Sonia Gandhi’s memoir. The statement came amid reports that the publisher backed out after Sonia Gandhi refused “editorial changes” to the manuscript. Earlier reporting noted: The publisher said that even though they were “willing and keen to publish the book”, it is their “prerogative and responsibility to fact check authors and provide recommendations” as a normal part of the publishing process.
Earlier reporting noted: “Penguin Random House India is not the publisher of Belonging in India.
