Penguin Random House India (PRHI) on Friday clarified that it is not the publisher of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s much-anticipated memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love, rejecting reports that the publishing house had decided against publishing the book following a disagreement over editorial changes. "Penguin Random House India is not the publisher of Belonging in India. Any suggestion that Penguin Random House India decided not to publish Belonging because the author declined editorial changes does not accurately reflect the circumstances," a company spokesperson said.&nbsp;The spokesperson said that fact-checking manuscripts and suggesting changes are a routine part of the publishing process. “As a publisher, it is both our prerogative and our responsibility to fact check and provide authors with recommendations that are in the best interests of their books. This is a normal part of the publishing process. Throughout the relevant discussions, Penguin Random House India's position was that we remained willing and keen to publish the book,” the spokesperson added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-signs-45-7-million-deal-to-buy-us-javelin-anti-tank-missiles-for-army-more-details-inside-1787909729092">India signs $45.7 million deal to buy US Javelin anti-tank missiles for army: More details inside</a>&nbsp;PRHI also declined to provide further details about its discussions with the author, citing confidentiality. The spokesperson also said the publication will “not comment further on confidential discussions with the author”. The clarification follows a report by The Indian Express, which claimed that PRHI had decided not to publish the memoir over “editorial changes and deletions” sought by the publisher in a section of the manuscript. According to the report, Gandhi allegedly refused to accept the requested changes. The memoir is scheduled for an international release on November 10 through Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Knopf had earlier announced an initial print run of one lakh copies.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Penguin Random House India official statement. <a href="https://t.co/2g8y3F1p7m">pic.twitter.com/2g8y3F1p7m</a>&mdash; Penguin India (@PenguinIndia) <a href="https://x.com/PenguinIndia/status/2093249144253190583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Titled Belonging: A Journey of Love, the memoir is expected to chronicle Sonia Gandhi’s life journey, from her childhood in post-war Italy to her move to India and marriage to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The book is also expected to explore some of the major tragedies that shaped her life, including the deaths of Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.&nbsp;It is likely to cover Gandhi’s entry into public life and her decades at the centre of one of India’s most prominent political families.In the publisher’s announcement, Sonia Gandhi said, “Much has been written about my family, but few narratives were able to reach into the truth of their motivations, their actions and even their human failings…My story also offers readers a unique perspective of the social and political changes I have witnessed for six decades.” The latest clarification from PRHI adds a new dimension to the discussion surrounding the highly anticipated memoir, while the book’s international publication remains scheduled for November 10.

Penguin Random House India clarifies it is not publishing Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging, amid reports of disagreements over editorial changes and deletions

Penguin Random House India (PRHI) on Friday clarified that it is not the publisher of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s much-anticipated memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love, rejecting reports that the publishing house had decided against publishing the book following a disagreement over editorial changes. "Penguin Random House India is not the publisher of Belonging in India. Any suggestion that Penguin Random House India decided not to publish Belonging because the author declined editorial changes does not accurately reflect the circumstances," a company spokesperson said. The spokesperson said that fact-checking manuscripts and suggesting changes are a routine part of the publishing process. “As a publisher, it is both our prerogative and our responsibility to fact check and provide authors with recommendations that are in the best interests of their books. This is a normal part of the publishing process. Throughout the relevant discussions, Penguin Random House India's position was that we remained willing and keen to publish the book,” the spokesperson added. Also Read: India signs $45.7 million deal to buy US Javelin anti-tank missiles for army: More details inside PRHI also declined to provide further details about its discussions with the author, citing confidentiality. The spokesperson also said the publication will “not comment further on confidential discussions with the author”. The clarification follows a report by The Indian Express, which claimed that PRHI had decided not to publish the memoir over “editorial changes and deletions” sought by the publisher in a section of the manuscript. According to the report, Gandhi allegedly refused to accept the requested changes. The memoir is scheduled for an international release on November 10 through Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Knopf had earlier announced an initial print run of one lakh copies.

Sonia Gandhi’s memoir ‘Belonging’ sparks publishing controversy as Penguin Random House India clarifies its position over editorial changes and publication

'We remained willing and keen to publish’: Penguin Random House India on Sonia Gandhi’s memoir 'Belonging'

Nihar Malaviya, an Indian-origin publishing executive, has been named the interim CEO of New York-based international publishing group Penguin Random House after its current chief executive officer Markus Dohle announced that he is stepping down from the role.

Malaviya, who has been President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the publisher's American division Penguin Random House US since 2019, will assume the role of Interim CEO of Penguin Random House starting January 1, 2023, the publisher's parent company Bertelsmann said in a statement Friday.

Malaviya, who will report to Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe, will join Bertelsmann's Group Management Committee (GMC), as well as continue to be a member of the Penguin Random House Global Executive Committee.

"Following Malaviya's appointment, the GMC will comprise 20 top executives of eight different nationalities," the statement said.

"As interim CEO of Penguin Random House, Malaviya will lead the creation of new competitive advantages that position the global company for future growth," the statement said.

In his capacity as President and COO, Malaviya, 48, was responsible for all publishing operations in the US from supply chain to technology and data and client services.

Dohle is stepping down as CEO at the end of 2022, and simultaneously resigning his seat on the Bertelsmann Executive Board, "at his own request and on the best of mutual terms," Bertelsmann said.

Dohle said in the statement that after nearly 15 years on the Executive Board of Bertelsmann and at the helm of the global publishing business, he has decided to hand over the next chapter of Penguin Random House to new leadership, following the antitrust decision in the US against the merger of Penguin Random House and Simon &amp; Schuster.

In late October this year, the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in favour of the Justice Department in its civil antitrust lawsuit to block Penguin Random House's proposed USD 2.2 billion acquisition of Simon &amp; Schuster.

The court had found that the effect of the proposed merger would be to substantially lessen competition in the market for the US publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books.

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division had said that the decision protected vital competition for books and was a victory for authors, readers, and the free exchange of ideas.

"The proposed merger would have reduced competition, decreased author compensation, diminished the breadth, depth, and diversity of our stories and ideas, and ultimately impoverished our democracy," Kanter had said.

Since 2014, Malaviya had the responsibility for all publishing operations in the US from the supply chain to technology and data and client services.&nbsp;He is a member of the Penguin Random House Global Executive Committee and leads the creation of new competitive advantages that position the global company for future growth.

He began his career at Bertelsmann in 2001 as a participant in the Bertelsmann Entrepreneurs Programme.

In 2003, he moved within the group to Random House, successfully taking on a number of leadership positions. Malaviya is a two-time recipient of the Bertelsmann Entrepreneur Award for Strategy Execution and serves on the Bertelsmann Technology and Data Advisory Board.

He holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the NYU Stern School of Business, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He is also a member of the board of Yale University Press.

Rabe described Malaviya as an "outstanding leader and an entrepreneurial publishing professional who knows Penguin Random House inside out.

"As the person responsible for all operational publishing processes in the US as well as the implementation of a global Tech &amp; Data agenda, he has played a major role in the company's success and created sustainable competitive advantages for Penguin Random House globally," Rabe said.

He added that with his deep understanding of the global media landscape and publishing industry, Malaviya will continue to develop the company and invest in its expansion, both organically and through acquisitions. 
&nbsp;

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Nihar Malaviya, an Indian-origin publishing executive, has been named the interim CEO of New York-based international publishing group Penguin Random House after its current chief executive officer Markus Dohle announced that he is stepping down from the role.

Nihar Malaviya, an Indian-origin publishing executive, has been named the interim CEO of New York-based international publishing group Penguin Random House after its current chief executive officer Markus Dohle announced that he is stepping down from the role. Malaviya, who has been President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the publisher's American division Penguin Random House US since 2019, will assume the role of Interim CEO of Penguin Random House starting January 1, 2023, the publisher's parent company Bertelsmann said in a statement Friday. Malaviya, who will report to Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe, will join Bertelsmann's Group Management Committee (GMC), as well as continue to be a member of the Penguin Random House Global Executive Committee. "Following Malaviya's appointment, the GMC will comprise 20 top executives of eight different nationalities," the statement said. "As interim CEO of Penguin Random House, Malaviya will lead the creation of new competitive advantages that position the global company for future growth," the statement said. In his capacity as President and COO, Malaviya, 48, was responsible for all publishing operations in the US from supply chain to technology and data and client services. Dohle is stepping down as CEO at the end of 2022, and simultaneously resigning his seat on the Bertelsmann Executive Board, "at his own request and on the best of mutual terms," Bertelsmann said. Dohle said in the statement that after nearly 15 years on the Executive Board of Bertelsmann and at the helm of the global publishing business, he has decided to hand over the next chapter of Penguin Random House to new leadership, following the antitrust decision in the US against the merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. In late October this year, the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in favour of the Justice Department in its civil antitrust lawsuit to block Penguin Random House's proposed USD 2.2 billion acquisition of Simon & Schuster. The court had found that the effect of the proposed merger would be to substantially lessen competition in the market for the US publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books. Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division had said that the decision protected vital competition for books and was a victory for authors, readers, and the free exchange of ideas. "The proposed merger would have reduced competition, decreased author compensation, diminished the breadth, depth, and diversity of our stories and ideas, and ultimately impoverished our democracy," Kanter had said. Since 2014, Malaviya had the responsibility for all publishing operations in the US from the supply chain to technology and data and client services. He is a member of the Penguin Random House Global Executive Committee and leads the creation of new competitive advantages that position the global company for future growth. He began his career at Bertelsmann in 2001 as a participant in the Bertelsmann Entrepreneurs Programme. In 2003, he moved within the group to Random House, successfully taking on a number of leadership positions. Malaviya is a two-time recipient of the Bertelsmann Entrepreneur Award for Strategy Execution and serves on the Bertelsmann Technology and Data Advisory Board. He holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the NYU Stern School of Business, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He is also a member of the board of Yale University Press. Rabe described Malaviya as an "outstanding leader and an entrepreneurial publishing professional who knows Penguin Random House inside out. "As the person responsible for all operational publishing processes in the US as well as the implementation of a global Tech & Data agenda, he has played a major role in the company's success and created sustainable competitive advantages for Penguin Random House globally," Rabe said. He added that with his deep understanding of the global media landscape and publishing industry, Malaviya will continue to develop the company and invest in its expansion, both organically and through acquisitions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indian-origin Nihar Malaviya named interim CEO of international publishing group Penguin Random House

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'We remained willing and keen to publish’: Penguin Random House India on Sonia Gandhi’s memoir 'Belonging'

Indian-origin Nihar Malaviya named interim CEO of international publishing group Penguin Random House