Story perspectives

HarperCollins India to Publish Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 4:40 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Publisher Withdrawal Dispute

Former Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s memoir “Belonging: A Journey of Love” will be released on November 10, 2026.
Penguin Random House India withdrew from publishing the memoir, citing editorial disagreements, prompting HarperCollins India to take over.
The book recounts Gandhi’s childhood in Italy and her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi.
Gandhi warned the memoir could spark controversy and lead readers to view her more negatively.

Right

Tamasha Warning Claim

Former Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s memoir “Belonging: A Journey of Love” is set for publication on 10 November 2026.
She warned the book will create a “tamasha,” claiming past stories were invented and that she is recording the facts herself.
The announcement video was posted on X, marking her first appearance on the platform.
Alfred A. Knopf will publish the memoir internationally.
HarperCollins India will publish the Indian edition after Penguin Random House withdrew.

Blindspot

Penguin Random House India withdrew from publishing Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, stating publicly the decision was due to editorial disagreements with the manuscript.
Within this story’s sources, this detail appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In 1978, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s controversial autobiography “My Truth” was released, igniting fierce political debate across India nationwide. Penguin Books printed 1.2 million copies, while the Congress Party denounced the memoir as a partisan weapon, and New Delhi’s media amplified the controversy. Sonia Gandhi’s 2026 memoir faces similar publisher withdrawals, with HarperCollins India stepping in after Penguin Random House cited editorial disagreements, echoing the 1978 dispute. These recurring publishing battles highlight enduring tensions between India’s ruling families and the press, suggesting future memoir releases will remain flashpoints for political contention.

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Publisher Withdrawal Dispute

Former Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s memoir “Belonging: A Journey of Love” will be released on November 10, 2026.
Penguin Random House India withdrew from publishing the memoir, citing editorial disagreements, prompting HarperCollins India to take over.
The book recounts Gandhi’s childhood in Italy and her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi.
Gandhi warned the memoir could spark controversy and lead readers to view her more negatively.

1 / 4