NEW DELHI: Penguin India has withdrawn from the publication of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s much-anticipated memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, which was scheduled for international release on November 10.
The memoir was to be published internationally by Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Knopf had initially planned to print around one lakh copies of the book.
Confirming the development, Penguin India said publishers have the right and responsibility to make changes to a book in the interest of the author and the work. However, it declined to comment on confidential discussions with the author.
The memoir was expected to chronicle Sonia Gandhi’s childhood in post-World War II Italy, her move to India and her marriage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
It was also expected to cover some of the most significant and tragic events in her life, including the deaths of Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
The book was further expected to offer insights into Sonia Gandhi’s entry into public life and her years as a central figure in the Nehru-Gandhi family, one of India’s most prominent political dynasties.
The reasons behind Penguin India’s decision to withdraw from the project have not been disclosed. It is also unclear whether the memoir will be published through another imprint or whether its scheduled release will be affected.
