Former Army Chief General MM Naravane has broken his silence amidst a heated political controversy surrounding his memoir, Four Stars of Destiny. On Tuesday, General Naravane took to social media to share a statement from his publisher, Penguin Random House India (PRHI), which clarified that the book has not yet been published or made available to the public in any format.
The controversy erupted in Parliament last week when Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote excerpts from the book to question the government’s handling of the 2020 India-China border standoff. Gandhi displayed what he claimed were printed copies of the memoir, accusing the government of suppressing the book because it contained “inconvenient truths” about the Galwan Valley clash and the Agnipath scheme.
In response to the growing speculation and the circulation of alleged PDF copies online, Penguin Random House issued a firm statement asserting its exclusive publishing rights. “We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication. No copies of the book—in print or digital form—have been published, distributed, sold, or otherwise made available to the public,” the statement read. The publisher further warned that any circulating copies constitute copyright infringement and legal action would be taken against unauthorized dissemination.
General Naravane’s decision to share this note is seen as a move to distance himself from the unauthorized leaks while validating the publisher’s stance. However, the political standoff continues. Rahul Gandhi has challenged the publisher’s claim, citing a 2023 tweet by General Naravane himself that announced the book was “available now” for pre-order. “Either he is lying, or Penguin is lying,” Gandhi remarked to reporters, suggesting that pressure from the government has forced the delay.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has registered an FIR to investigate the leak of the “unpublished” manuscript. The Special Cell is probing how a draft version of the sensitive memoir, which is still reportedly awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Defence, found its way into the public domain. As the investigation proceeds, the book remains in limbo, caught between bureaucratic red tape and a high-stakes political battle.
