Former Indian Army chief General MM Naravane has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding his unpublished memoir Four Stars of Destiny, stating that the book has not yet been released and remains pending official clearance. On February 10, 2026, Naravane reshared a clarification issued by Penguin Random House India on X, confirming that no official copies of the book have been published or circulated.
The intervention comes amid an escalating political storm involving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently cited alleged excerpts from the book during a protest outside Parliament.
DON'T MISS
Book Awaiting Defence Ministry Clearance
According to the publisher, Four Stars of Destiny has been awaiting Ministry of Defence (MoD) approval for over a year, as required under protocol for memoirs written by senior military officials. The book chronicles Naravane’s tenure as Army Chief, including the 2020 India-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh.
One reported passage describes a conversation in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, allegedly authorised the Army to respond flexibly to Chinese actions. These claims have become central to the current political controversy.
Rahul Gandhi’s Display Sparks Political Storm
In early February 2026, Rahul Gandhi displayed what he claimed was a printed copy of Naravane’s memoir outside Parliament, quoting passages that suggested the former Army chief felt “abandoned” by the political leadership during the Ladakh crisis. Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister had failed to fulfil his responsibility, triggering heated protests, repeated Lok Sabha adjournments, and the suspension of several opposition MPs.
However, Penguin Random House India categorically stated that no physical or digital copies of the book had been released and that any versions in circulation were unauthorised and illegal.
