Penguin Random House India out. HarperCollins in. Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, has found a new publisher for distributing the book in the Indian territory.
The publisher though denied any such motive behind the move. “Penguin Random House India is not the publisher of Belonging in India. “Throughout the relevant discussions, Penguin Random House India’s position was that we remained willing and keen to publish the book. We will not comment further on confidential discussions with the author,” the statement added. “In many ways, this book is a homage to their humanness. My story also offers readers a unique perspective of the social and political changes I have witnessed for six decades in the beautiful country of my belonging.”
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.
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. 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. “Much has been written about my family, but few narratives were able to reach into the truth of their motivations, their actions and even their very human failings,” Sonia Gandhi said in a statement issued through Knopf.
Earlier reporting noted: Penguin Random House India backtracked on its decision to publish the memoir, earlier announced by its US-based imprint, Alfred A Knopf. Sonia Gandhi eventually entered politics and became the longest-serving president of the Congress while also turning down her party’s offer to become prime minister. “It was heartbreak and loss that threw me into the public world of politics.
Her party lost power to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP in 2014. Earlier reporting noted: Sonia Gandhi’s memoir ‘Belonging’ to be published by HarperCollins on Nov 10 Sonia Gandhi’s memoir ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’ will be published by HarperCollins after Penguin Random House India backed out. The book will be published on November 10, the publisher said.
Up till then I had guarded my privacy fiercely,” she said in her statement.
Earlier reporting noted: While Congress leaders raised issues of governmental pressure and freedom of expression over the content, Penguin India denied such claims.
