This Is the Status: Gen Naravane Shares Penguin’s ‘Book Wasn’t Published’ Claim
Editor: Sudhir Choudhary
Date: February 11, 2026
New Delhi | The Vagabond News
Former Indian Army chief Manoj Naravane has publicly addressed the status of his proposed book, stating that publisher Penguin Random House India has conveyed to him that the book “was not published.” The clarification comes amid public discussion and online speculation surrounding the manuscript and its publication status.
General Naravane shared the update through a public statement, indicating that the matter remains unresolved and that he is relaying Penguin’s position as communicated to him. He did not provide further details on the internal deliberations that led to the current status.
What Gen Naravane Has Said
According to General Naravane, the publisher’s position is that the book was never formally published. He emphasized that he was sharing the factual status as conveyed to him, without attributing intent or drawing conclusions about the reasons behind the situation.
The former Army chief did not disclose whether the manuscript had progressed through final editorial approval or printing stages. He also did not indicate whether any legal or contractual dispute exists between the author and the publisher.
At this stage, no excerpts from the book have been officially released, and there is no confirmed publication date on record.
Penguin’s Position
Penguin Random House India has not issued a detailed public statement elaborating on the matter. The publisher has not confirmed whether the manuscript was withdrawn, delayed, or declined prior to publication.
In the absence of an official clarification, it remains unclear whether the book was halted during editorial review or whether it failed to meet internal publishing criteria. No public explanation citing content concerns, legal review, or policy considerations has been released.
Broader Context
General Naravane served as India’s Army chief from 2019 to 2022, a period marked by heightened tensions along India’s borders and significant military developments. Any memoir or account from a former service chief naturally attracts public attention due to its potential insights into national security decision-making.
However, there is no official confirmation that the unpublished manuscript contains classified material or commentary on sensitive operations. Neither the Indian Army nor the Ministry of Defence has commented on the issue.
What Is Confirmed — and What Is Not
It is confirmed that General Naravane has stated that Penguin Random House India informed him that his book was not published. It is also confirmed that no official version of the book is currently available in print or digital form.
What has not been confirmed is why the book was not published, whether it was formally withdrawn, or whether publication may still occur in the future. There is also no official statement clarifying whether the decision was mutual or unilateral.
Until further clarification from the publisher or the author, the matter remains a question of publishing status rather than content.
Sources:
– Public statements by Gen Manoj Naravane
– Publisher information from Penguin Random House India
Tags: Indian Army, Manoj Naravane, book publishing, Penguin Random House India, defence
News by The Vagabond News
Leave a Reply