Sonia Gandhi’s ‘Belonging’ | What is the controversy over its publication in India?

Sonia Gandhi's memoir "Belonging: A Journey of Love" is set to be published in India by HarperCollins India on November 10. Initially, the book was to be published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI), but they announced on August 28 that they would not be the publisher of the memoir in India. This change occurred after an impasse between PRHI and representatives of Ms. Gandhi over the manuscript.

The memoir, internationally published by Alfred A. Knopf, offers a personal account of Ms. Gandhi's life and an insider's view of India's political journey. It covers her childhood in post-war Italy, her meeting with Rajiv Gandhi, their marriage, her arrival in India, and her efforts to adjust to Indian life. The memoir also includes accounts of the deaths of Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, as well as Ms. Gandhi's political journey and her decline from leading the Congress-led alliance in the 2004 Lok Sabha election to not taking the Prime Minister's post.

The uncertainty over the Indian edition arose from disagreements between PRHI and Ms. Gandhi's representatives regarding sections of the manuscript. These sections reportedly included topics such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of India-China relations, Ms. Gandhi's impressions of Mr. Modi, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Ms. Gandhi declined to make the suggested changes, arguing that altering these sections would be self-censorship and interfere with the narrative. PRHI, however, maintains that the decision was not solely due to Ms. Gandhi's refusal to make changes but also involved editorial discussions and recommendations. The publisher has emphasized that it is both its prerogative and responsibility to fact-check a manuscript and make recommendations for the benefit of the book. The precise nature of the disagreement remains undisclosed by the publisher.