September 4, 2026: In what is set to be one of the largest political publishing events of the decade, HarperCollins India announced today, September 4, 2026, that it has acquired the domestic publishing rights to Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, “Belonging: A Journey of Love“. The book is scheduled for release in India on November 10, 2026.
The announcement follows days of intense media speculation across the publishing industry. Penguin Random House India (PRHI) recently backed out of its Indian deal following editorial disagreements surrounding requested deletions on sensitive contemporary topics, leaving HarperCollins India to take over local publication.
Essential Release Details
| Property | Details |
| Book Title | Belonging: A Journey of Love |
| Author | Sonia Gandhi |
| Indian Publisher | HarperCollins India |
| Global Publisher (US/UK) | Alfred A. Knopf (Penguin Random House US) |
| Release Date | November 10, 2026 |
From Cambridge Romance to Political Leadership
Spanning over five decades, Belonging offers a rare personal account of Sonia Gandhi’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to becoming the longest-serving president of the Indian National Congress.
The narrative opens in 1965 in Cambridge, England, detailing her first meeting with her future husband, Rajiv Gandhi. It traces her transition into life in India under the guidance of her mother-in-law, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, alongside the tragedy of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in 1991.
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Beyond personal reflections, the text covers her decision to step back from taking the Prime Minister’s office in 2004, choosing instead to lead the governing Coalition alliance.
The Publishing Shakeup in New Delhi
The switch in Indian publishers comes after reports that Penguin Random House India requested several editorial modifications to references concerning contemporary political relations and leaders.
To prevent differences between the domestic print and international editions (which will still be published globally by Knopf), the author’s team opted to move the domestic release to HarperCollins India.
By securing the title, HarperCollins India adds another major political history work to its trade roster, positioning Belonging as a central non-fiction release for the upcoming Q4 holiday reading cycle.
