Penguin backs out of publishing Sonia Gandhi memoir, citing unease over government criticism

Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi said Penguin Random House India was uneasy about criticism of the government, prompting the publisher to back out of publishing her memoir "Belonging: A Journey of Love". The book, set for release on November 10, was initially welcomed by Penguin but the firm later announced it would not act as the Indian publisher. Gandhi told The Guardian she was disappointed but not surprised, describing the move as an attempt to censor her work. The row began after reports of a dispute over editorial changes between Penguin and Gandhi’s representatives. Several Congress leaders claimed the publisher faced pressure to delete passages mentioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the RSS and China’s occupation of Indian territory under Modi’s rule. Penguin India denied any external pressure, saying the split was due to an impasse on a specific issue that remains confidential. HarperCollins India subsequently stepped in, confirming it will publish the memoir in India on November 10, ending the uncertainty. In the same interview Gandhi criticised the past twelve years of the Modi government, saying it has eroded India’s secular and pluralistic character and that opposition voices are now ignored in parliament. She recalled a time when opposition and government held consultations, contrasting it with the current situation where the opposition “counts for nothing”.

Context

Penguin Random House is a leading global publishing group with a strong presence in India. HarperCollins is another major international publisher operating in the Indian market. In recent years Indian publishers have faced scrutiny over content that criticises the government, making this dispute part of a wider debate on press freedom.