Penguin Random House India (PRHI) has issued an official clarification that it holds the exclusive publishing rights to former army chief Manoj Mukund Naravaan’s memoir Four Stars of Destiny and the book is yet to be published, amid controversy over alleged unauthorized copying.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi showed a copy of the unpublished memoirs of former army chief MM Naravaan during the budget session of Parliament. (PTI)The publisher’s statement comes after the Delhi Police registered an FIR and started an investigation into the alleged illegal circulation of the manuscript in digital and other formats. The case has reportedly been handed over to a special cell for a detailed investigation into possible leaks or violations involving unpublished works.
In a statement issued on Monday, PRHI said it wishes to place its position on record in light of recent public discourse and media reports. It said it was the sole rights holder of the memoir and insisted that no authorized version had been released to the public.
“We hold the sole publishing rights to the book Four Stars of Destiny, the memoir of former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravaan. We would like to clarify that the book has not gone for publication,” the publisher said.
The company added that no copy, in print or digital form, has been published, distributed, sold or otherwise made available by the publisher. It warned that any version currently circulated, in whole or in part, and across formats including print, PDF, or online platforms, would constitute copyright infringement.
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“Any copy of the book currently in circulation, in whole or in part, in print, digital, PDF or any other format, online or offline, on any platform, infringes PRHI’s copyright and must be stopped immediately,” the statement said. The publisher added that it would use legal remedies available under the law against unauthorized dissemination.
The book became a political flashpointThe unpublished memoir became the flashpoint of a political debate when opposition leader Rahul Gandhi referred to excerpts from it in the Lok Sabha. He tried to cite sections related to the Galwan conflict and the movement of Chinese troops, drawing objections from government ministers who said the book had not been officially published. The Speaker rejected the references, causing disruption and adjournment of the proceedings.
The memoir was originally slated for release in April 2024 after pre-orders were announced in 2023. However, the release was delayed. Listings on Amazon continue to show the title as currently unavailable, pre-orders cancelled.
Naravane had earlier indicated at a literary festival that the manuscript was with the publisher and was under review, noting that the clearance process involving the Ministry of Defense was pending.
It is standard practice for books to undergo scrutiny for sensitive operational details by former senior military officers. Reports said the memoirs discussed issues such as the Agnipath project and the Galwan Valley conflict.
PRHI said its latest statement is being issued specifically to clarify the book’s status and confirm its copyright, as investigations into the alleged leak continue.
