Sonia Gandhi memoir row: HarperCollins India to publish ‘Belonging’ on November 10

HarperCollins India on Friday announced that it will publish Congress leader Sonia Gandhis memoir Belonging A Journey of Love in India on November 10 ending uncertainty over the books domestic publication following an impasse between the authors representatives and Penguin Random House India news agency PTI reportedOne of the most anticipated political memoirs of our time Belonging is a dramatic and deeply personal story of love identity duty and belonging and offers a rare insiders view of Indias journey HarperCollins India said in a statementThe announcement comes amid a controversy involving Penguin Random House India PRHI which had initially been keen to publish the memoir but later said it would not be the Indian publisherThe controversy began following reports of differences between the publisher and the authors representatives over editorial changes to the manuscriptSeveral Congress leaders raised concerns over alleged governmental pressure and freedom of expression with some claiming there was pressure on Penguin India to remove sections relating to Prime Minister Narendra Modi the RSS and Chinas occupation of Indian territory during the Modi regimeIn an exclusive statement to PTI last week PRHI clarified that it was really keen to publish the book describing it as a hardwon acquisition but ultimately decided to step away due to a stalemate over a particular issueWhile maintaining that there was no external pressure whatsoever PRHI declined to disclose the exact nature of the impasse citing confidentiality clauses and its agreement with the authorOn some they agreed to changes and on others we accepted the authors position Unfortunately and ultimately an understanding could not be reached on a particular issue said PRHI the Indian subsidiaryoperating company of Penguin Random House PRH the global publishing groupWith HarperCollins India now set to publish the memoir domestically Belonging will be available in India alongside its international release on November 10 by Alfred A Knopf an imprint of Penguin Random HouseSonia Gandhirsquos journey from Italy to IndiaBelonging begins with Gandhis childhood in postwar Veneto Italy and traces her journey to Cambridge where she met Rajiv Gandhi grandson of Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1965The memoir recounts her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi and her introduction to her motherinlaw former prime minister Indira Gandhi It also details her efforts to adjust to life in India including learning Hindi wearing saris and adapting to Indian food and cultureThe book covers the major tragedies that transformed the Gandhi family including the death of Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash Indira Gandhis assassination in 1984 and Rajiv Gandhis assassination in 1991The memoir also delves into the political events surrounding the Congressled alliances victory after the 2004 election when Sonia Gandhi declined to become prime minister and instead led the party and its alliance which governed India for a decadeWith PTI inputs