A major controversy has erupted overFour Stars of Destiny, the unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane (Retd), after a printed hardback copy surfaced in Parliament in the hands of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Though the book was slated for release in 2024, its launch was halted pending clearance from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had stated that the book “does not exist”.
The appearance of a physical copy has raised sharp questions about how a defence-related manuscript, still under government review, was printed and circulated. The memoir, published by Penguin Random House India, chronicles Gen Naravane’s four-decade military career, including sensitive episodes such as the India–China standoff along the Line of Actual Control and the Agnipath recruitment scheme.
During the post-Budget session of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi quoted from a magazine article based on the unpublished manuscript, triggering strong objections from the treasury benches. Days later, Gandhi returned to Parliament carrying a hard copy of the book, saying he intended to gift it to the Prime Minister.
Reports indicate that printed copies of the memoir briefly reached bookstores in Delhi before being recalled by the publisher. While manuscripts are typically reviewed as soft copies, printing and binding involve substantial investment and are usually undertaken only after approvals. The incident has fuelled speculation over whether the publisher printed the book prematurely or whether approvals were granted and later withdrawn.
Under Indian law, retired military officers are no longer governed by the Army Act but remain bound for life by the Official Secrets Act. While no statutory requirement mandates prior approval for most retired officers, manuscripts dealing with operational matters are often voluntarily submitted for vetting. Neither the MoD nor the publisher has issued a formal clarification, leaving unanswered questions about oversight, accountability, and the handling of sensitive defence material.
