‘This is the status of the book’: Ex-Army chief Naravane shares publisher’s statement

Former Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has issued his first reaction amid the controversy over his unpublished memoir Four Stars of Destiny, endorsing the clarification issued by publisher Penguin Random House India. Naravane reshared the publisher’s statement on social media and wrote, “This is the status of the book.”

The publisher clarified that it holds the sole publishing rights to the memoir and that the book has not been published in any form. It stated that no print or digital copies have been released, distributed, sold, or made available to the public, seeking to address speculation triggered by recent public and political discourse.

Penguin further warned that any unauthorised circulation of the book, whether in print, PDF, or digital format, would constitute copyright infringement. It added that legal remedies would be pursued against those involved in the illegal dissemination of the unpublished material.

The clarification came amid allegations that unauthorised PDF copies of the memoir were in circulation, even though the book has not received final clearance. The issue gained prominence after excerpts allegedly linked to the memoir were cited in Parliament, intensifying the political and public debate around the unpublished work.

To prevent further confusion, the publisher also explained the difference between a book announcement, pre-order availability, and publication. It stressed that a book is considered published only when it becomes officially available for purchase through retail channels, reiterating that Four Stars of Destiny has not yet reached that stage.