Penguin denies dropping Sonia Gandhi memoir over editorial changes, says it remained willing to publish

Penguin Random House India on Friday clarified that it is not the Indian publisher of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s forthcoming memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love, rejecting reports that it decided against publishing the book after the author refused proposed editorial changes.

The clarification came after reports said Penguin Random House India had sought certain “editorial changes and deletions” in a section of the manuscript, which Gandhi did not agree to. The reports subsequently said the publishing house would no longer bring out the book in India, with HarperCollins reportedly among the publishers in discussions for the Indian edition.

The development triggered considerable discussion over the reported editorial differences surrounding a highly anticipated memoir that is expected to offer Gandhi’s account of her personal life, marriage to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and experiences within the Nehru-Gandhi family.

However, Penguin Random House India disputed the reported account in a statement issued on Friday.

“Penguin Random House India is not the publisher of ‘Belonging’ in India. Any suggestion that Penguin Random House India decided not to publish ‘Belonging’ because the author declined editorial changes does not accurately reflect the circumstances,” the publisher said.

It said fact-checking manuscripts and making editorial recommendations were part of a publisher’s normal responsibilities.

“As a publisher, it is both our prerogative and our responsibility to fact check and provide authors with recommendations that are in the best interests of their books. This is a normal part of the publishing process,” it said.

Penguin also said that throughout the relevant discussions, its position was that it remained “willing and keen” to publish the book.

The publishing house declined to disclose further details, citing the confidential nature of its discussions with the author.

Belonging: A Journey of Love is scheduled for international release on November 10. The book is being published in the United States by Alfred A Knopf, a Penguin Random House imprint. The reported dispute concerns the book’s publication in India and does not affect its international release.