Former Chief of the Indian Army, General Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd.), on Tuesday addressed the growing controversy surrounding his memoir Four Stars of Destiny by sharing an official clarification from the publisher, Penguin Random House India. Taking to social media platform X, Naravane reposted the publisher’s statement and wrote, “This is the status of the book,” aiming to put an end to speculation about its alleged circulation.
This is the status of the book. https://t.co/atLtwhJvl0
— Manoj Naravane (@ManojNaravane) February 10, 2026
The clarification from Penguin Random House India stated that the publishing house holds the sole rights to Naravane’s memoir and confirmed that the book has not yet been published. According to the publisher, no copies of Four Stars of Destiny—whether in print or digital form—have been released, distributed, sold, or made available to the public in any manner. The statement was issued amid heightened public discourse and media reports suggesting that the memoir was already accessible.
The issue gained political traction after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi cited an earlier social media post by Naravane that mentioned the book being “available now.” Gandhi used this reference to question the publisher’s denial, stating that he trusted the former Army chief’s word over the clarification issued by Penguin. His remarks further intensified the debate, drawing attention from political circles and defence observers alike.
In response to the renewed discussion, Penguin Random House India issued another statement on Tuesday to explain the distinction between announcing a book and officially publishing it. The publisher clarified that promotional announcements or information about pre-orders should not be misunderstood as publication. It reiterated that Four Stars of Destiny has not yet gone into publication and remains unreleased.
Naravane’s memoir has attracted significant attention due to his role as Army Chief during critical moments involving national security and defence policy. Any suggestion of early circulation naturally sparked controversy and political interest. By personally sharing the publisher’s clarification, Naravane appeared to reaffirm the official position and counter claims suggesting otherwise.
The publisher has maintained a consistent stance throughout the controversy, emphasizing that the memoir has not been published in any format so far. With both Naravane and Penguin Random House India now publicly clarifying the matter, the focus is expected to shift away from speculation until an official publication announcement is made.