HarperCollins steps in to publish Sonia Gandhi’s ‘Belonging’ following domestic row with Penguin
In a major development within the political and literary landscapes, HarperCollins India officially announced that it will publish Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s highly anticipated memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love.
The announcement puts an end to weeks of intense industry speculation and domestic uncertainty regarding the book’s availability in India. The memoir is scheduled to hit shelves nationwide on November 10, 2026, aligning with its global launch.
The Publishing Controversy
The book deal shifts to HarperCollins India just days after Penguin Random House India withdrew from publishing the title domestically. The withdrawal triggered a wave of political debate.
Reports suggested that Penguin India had requested specific editorial deletions following its review process. Opposition leaders, including former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, alleged that political pressure was exerted on Penguin to strip out sections concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and border conflicts with China. While Penguin India denied facing external pressure, it confirmed that the two parties parted ways after failing to reach an agreement on a “particular issue” during editorial evaluations.
Ultimately, HarperCollins outbid other domestic competitors to secure the coveted publishing rights for the Indian territory.
What to Expect From ‘Belonging’
Described by HarperCollins as “one of the most anticipated political memoirs of our time,” Belonging is a deeply personal narrative that weaves together love, duty, identity, and the political trajectory of modern India.
The book traces 79-year-old Sonia Gandhi’s journey:
Early Life: Her childhood in post-war Italy and the Cambridge romance that brought her into the Nehru-Gandhi family.
Personal Tragedies: The shattering shockwaves of the assassinations of her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, and her husband, Rajiv Gandhi.
Political Rise: Her reluctant entry into public life, her tenure as the longest-serving Congress president, and her historic decision to decline the prime minister’s post in 2004.
In an official statement released through American publisher Alfred A. Knopf (an international imprint of Penguin Random House that retains global distribution), Sonia Gandhi stated, “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. In many ways, this book is a homage to their humanness.”
With the distribution rights firmly settled with HarperCollins India, advance orders are expected to spike as readers anticipate an unedited, insider account of six decades of Indian political history.
