The Sonia Gandhi Penguin book deal has collapsed in India. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi refused to remove references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the RSS, and Chinese intrusions from her memoir, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The development means Penguin Random House India will not publish the Indian edition of her book. HarperCollins is reportedly close to finalising a deal to distribute it in India instead.
Why Did The Sonia Gandhi Penguin Book Deal Collapse?
Gandhi maintained the memoir is her personal story. She was not willing to allow any distortion of her account, a person aware of the matter told Hindustan Times, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Penguin Random House India had raised objections to several passages. The final breakdown came over three or four specific sections that Gandhi refused to change, according to this person.
The disputed content reportedly falls into three broad areas.
- Her personal recollections of meetings with Prime Minister Modi
- References to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
- Passages on Chinese intrusions along India’s border
What Has Sonia Gandhi Written About PM Modi?
An aide to Gandhi said the memoir includes her impressions of Modi, built over a long political career. It also details specific interactions between the two leaders.
The aide referred to an incident from 2004, when Modi compared Gandhi to a “Jersey cow” at a public rally in Gujarat. Gandhi is said to have written about how the moment was handled at the time.
The memoir also reportedly compares Modi to other prime ministers Gandhi has interacted with. It remains unclear exactly what she has written about the RSS.
What Did The Publisher Say About The Sonia Gandhi Penguin Book Deal?
Penguin Random House India issued a statement disputing that editorial disagreements were behind the decision. The publisher said fact checking and editorial recommendations are a normal part of its process.
PRHI said it remained “willing and keen to publish the book” throughout the discussions.
The Congress party rejected this explanation. An aide close to Gandhi questioned the publisher’s fact checking claim, noting that Penguin’s international arm had already published the same book abroad.
Why Are China References Sensitive In This Book?
PRHI had specifically objected to Gandhi’s references to India-China relations and border intrusions, according to the aide cited above.
Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, have repeatedly pressed the government on the situation at the Line of Actual Control. They have accused the government of not being transparent about the border standoff with China.
This is not the first time a defence related memoir has run into publishing trouble in India this year.
How Does This Connect To The Naravane Memoir Row?
In February, Parliament’s budget session was disrupted over a separate, unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General MM Naravane. PRHI had commissioned that book too.
The book had already been printed. E-commerce platforms were even taking pre-orders. It was then withdrawn, with PRHI citing the fact that Naravane had not obtained official clearance.
Opposition parties demanded Rahul Gandhi be allowed to speak on the matter in the Lok Sabha. Speaker Om Birla did not permit him to refer to a magazine article carrying excerpts from the book, citing parliamentary rules.
Rahul Gandhi later told reporters outside Parliament that he would present Modi with a copy of the Naravane book if the Prime Minister came to the House. He said the book described the Army Chief being kept waiting during a critical moment involving Chinese forces at the border.
Gandhi alleged the book showed the political leadership had left the army “alone” during that period.
What Has The Congress Party Said About The Sonia Gandhi Penguin Book Deal?
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi criticised PRHI’s official statement, calling it weak. He noted on X that Penguin India has previously published Modi’s own book, “Exam Warriors,” along with several books on the RSS.
Gogoi suggested some within the government were uneasy about the memoir reaching Indian readers.
“Exam Warriors” is based on Modi’s initiative Pareeksha Pe Charcha. It compiles his advice to students on managing exam stress.
What Will The Indian Edition Of The Book Look Like?
The Indian edition is expected to carry a different cover from the international release. The global edition features a close up photograph of Gandhi.
The Indian cover is likely to show Gandhi in a saree, in a photograph taken by her late husband and former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.
What Happens Next With The Sonia Gandhi Memoir?
HarperCollins has not yet confirmed the deal publicly. The company declined to comment when approached for this story.
The memoir is set for a worldwide release through Alfred A Knopf on November 10. Independent literary agents handled the book deal, and most Congress leaders reportedly have not seen its full contents.
Until an Indian publisher is officially confirmed, questions will remain about how much of Gandhi’s account of the RSS, China and her interactions with Modi will reach Indian bookshelves unedited.