HarperCollins India has announced the publication of Belonging: A Journey of Love, the long-awaited memoir of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, with the book set to be released on 10 November, 2026.
Belonging traces Sonia Gandhi’s personal and political journey through themes of love, identity, duty and belonging. The memoir is expected to offer an intimate account of her life, from her early years in Italy to her role at the centre of Indian public life.
According to the publisher, the book combines personal reflections with insights into key moments in India’s modern political history, providing readers with a rare insider perspective on the country’s evolution over several decades.
Penguin India cites disagreement with author’s team
Penguin Random House India (PRHI) earlier clarified its decision not to publish Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, saying there was no external pressure behind the move. The publisher said the decision followed a lack of consensus on a specific issue during discussions over the book, titled Belonging: A Journey of Love.
PRHI did not disclose details of the issue, citing contractual obligations and the author’s confidentiality.
PRHI denies claims of external pressure
In an exclusive statement to PTI, PRHI spokesperson Pallavi Narayan said the publisher was “very keen” to publish Belonging and had made significant efforts to acquire the book.
The publisher said the manuscript remained confidential and had not been publicly released, adding that there was therefore no question of external pressure influencing its decision.
PRHI said the manuscript went through its standard editorial process, during which several issues were raised and discussed with Sonia Gandhi’s representatives.
According to the publisher, an agreement was reached on changes to some issues, while the author’s position was accepted in other cases. However, the two sides ultimately failed to reach an agreement on one specific issue.
Author’s team decided not to proceed
PRHI said Sonia Gandhi’s team subsequently informed the publisher that it did not wish to continue with the publication process. The publisher said it respected the decision.
“We are bound by an agreement, and the author’s confidentiality is of utmost importance to us. Therefore, we will not disclose what caused the impasse,” PRHI said.
The publisher added that its role is to critically assess manuscripts, raise questions, offer suggestions and make independent editorial decisions. It said the same process was followed for Belonging.
