New Delhi, Sep 4: Following the controversy over Penguin Random House India’s decision not to publish Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s autobiography, the publisher today announced that Harper Collins India will publish the book.
The autobiography, titled ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, will be released globally on November 10. The book will explore Sonia Gandhi’s journey from her childhood in Italy, her life in India, her marriage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and her decades at the centre of Indian politics.
Calling the Congress leader’s work “one of the most anticipated political autobiographies of our time”, Harper Collins said the book “provides a rare insight into India’s journey”.
“HarperCollins India will publish Sonia Gandhi’s book ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’. The autobiography will be released in India on November 10. One of the most intriguing political memoirs of our time, ‘Belonging’ is a personal story of love, duty and intimacy, offering a rare insight into the life of Sonia Gandhi,” the publishing house posted on X.
The development comes after Penguin India refused to publish and release the book in India. The publisher had requested that certain editorial changes and content be removed from some parts of the book. However, Sonia Gandhi reportedly did not agree to it.
Penguin India’s statement has sparked a huge political controversy. Penguin India had demanded that parts related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the RSS and India-China relations be removed, and Congress leaders had alleged that the decision was taken under pressure from the government.
Penguin India clarification:
However, Penguin India has clarified that there was no external pressure behind their decision. The organisation admitted that there was no consensus on a specific issue during the discussions. “Since the subject matter of the book is confidential, there was no external pressure,” Penguin India said.
The book’s release in India has been a hot topic ever since the US publishing giant and Penguin Random House’s ‘Alfred A Knopf’ announced that the book would be released on November 10.
In the book ‘Belonging’, 79-year-old Sonia Gandhi has written about how her life changed when her mother-in-law, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was assassinated in 1984 and when her successor, Rajiv Gandhi, was assassinated seven years later. Sonia Gandhi later entered politics and served as the Congress party’s longest-serving president, turning down the chance to become Prime Minister.