Penguin Random House India clarifies on publication of Sonia Gandhi's memoirs 'Belonging'

The uncertainty regarding the publication of 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', the memoirs of Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson and MP Sonia Gandhi, in India has now ended. According to a report by The Hindu, the book will be published in India by HarperCollins India on November 10. There was earlier discussion regarding the role of Penguin Random House India (PRHI) in the publication of this book, but it will ultimately be published by HarperCollins.

Initially, it was expected that Penguin Random House India would publish these memoirs in India. However, on August 28, Penguin Random House India officially announced that they are not the publishers of this book in India. According to The Hindu's report, this decision was taken due to a stalemate or disagreement between the publisher and Sonia Gandhi's representatives regarding the manuscript, resulting in Penguin Random House deciding not to publish.

Speaking about her upcoming book, Sonia Gandhi stated that the primary objective behind writing this book was to present an honest picture of her family. According to reports by Hindustan Times and Indian Express Gujarati, Sonia Gandhi clarified that this is not a political book, but a personal one. She stated that much has been written about her family, but rarely has anyone explained their reality, their intentions, their struggles, and their human flaws in depth. She wished to honestly present the family members she knew and loved.

Sharing her life experiences, Sonia Gandhi mentioned that for most of her life, she had kept her personal thoughts and inner world private. She added that even when grief pulled her into politics, she tried to maintain her privacy. In her view, writing openly about her life was unthinkable and difficult for her. She stated that it was only after stepping back from the daily struggles and rush of public life that she could see and write her story clearly.

In the book, Sonia Gandhi has depicted love and loyalty as the central themes of her life. She has written that it all began in England, where a 19-year-old girl from a small town in Italy met a young Indian student. This meeting led her toward a new country and a new family, where a deep bond was formed with her mother-in-law and years were spent raising children. She stated that love and loyalty helped her endure the unbearable personal tragedies of life, including the violent deaths of her mother-in-law and husband.

Sonia Gandhi further stated that her love for her husband and India kept her going, as she considered India her true home. She added that a strong sense of duty inspired her to enter public life, even though it was completely contrary to her own nature and inner motivation. Through this book, she wanted to share her experiences of over five decades spent in India, during which she saw the country transform first from the periphery and then from the centre. This book is a personal account of that journey and the place she considered home.

The memoirs cover some of the major tragic events of the Gandhi family. These include the death of Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash, the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984, and the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. Through this book, Sonia Gandhi has attempted to highlight the human aspects of her family members.

Sonia Gandhi is the former President of the Congress and currently the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party. She has played a significant role in Indian politics and led the party for a long time.