Publisher cites unresolved concerns, including a disputed map and a lack of supporting references
NEW DELHI — Penguin Random House India has decided not to distribute internationally acclaimed graphic journalist Joe Sacco’s latest non-fiction work, The Once and Future Riot, in India after concerns raised during an internal review and legal assessment process remained unresolved.
The book, which revisits the aftermath of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots in Uttar Pradesh, was first published by Penguin UK in October 2025 and was scheduled to be released in India in August this year. However, Penguin Random House India has now withdrawn plans to distribute the title in the country.
The decision has attracted attention in publishing and literary circles because Sacco is regarded as one of the world’s most influential graphic journalists. His previous works, including Palestine, Footnotes in Gaza and Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, have received international recognition for their reporting on conflict, displacement and political violence.
According to media reports, Penguin Random House India reached its decision after concerns raised during its review process were not addressed by the book’s international publisher.
Speaking to the media, Penguin Random House India Chief Executive Officer Gaurav Shrinagesh said questions were raised during both editorial and legal scrutiny of the book before its planned Indian release.
“We had highlighted certain issues regarding Joe Sacco’s book, but Penguin UK did not provide us with any response,” Shrinagesh said.
According to him, one of the key concerns related to a map included in the book that allegedly depicted India’s borders incorrectly.
“One issue was a map in the book that showed incorrect borders of India. Apart from that, we had raised some questions regarding the content and sought references, which were never provided,” he said.
Shrinagesh said the company could not proceed with distribution while those concerns remained unresolved.
“We are very clear about this. If we know a map is incorrect and no changes are being made, then we cannot move forward. Since these concerns were not addressed, we have decided that there will be no distribution,” he added.
The decision means that while the book remains available in some international markets, it will not be distributed by Penguin Random House India through its regular channels within the country.
Revisiting the Muzaffarnagar Violence
The Once and Future Riot is based on Sacco’s visit to Muzaffarnagar roughly a year after the communal violence that shook western Uttar Pradesh in September 2013.
The riots, which spread across Muzaffarnagar and neighbouring Shamli district, were among the deadliest episodes of communal violence in recent Indian history. Official figures recorded more than 60 deaths, while thousands of people were displaced from their homes. A large number of those affected were Muslims who were forced to leave their villages and seek shelter in relief camps.
Human rights groups, journalists and fact-finding teams documented cases of displacement, loss of property and allegations of sexual violence during and after the unrest. Many families spent months in temporary camps before attempting to rebuild their lives.
Through interviews, illustrations and on-the-ground reporting, Sacco sought to document the experiences of survivors and examine how the violence continued to affect communities long after the immediate clashes had ended.
Concerns Beyond the Map
Publishing sources indicate that Penguin Random House India also sought clarification on certain factual claims and references cited in the book. According to Shrinagesh, those requests remained unanswered.
The company has maintained that its decision was based on publishing and legal concerns rather than any government order or prohibition.
There has so far been no public indication that Penguin UK intends to revise the disputed map or provide additional documentation regarding the concerns raised by its Indian counterpart. No detailed public response from Penguin UK had been reported at the time of writing.
Debate Over Sensitive Histories
The decision has sparked discussion within publishing circles about the challenges of documenting contentious historical events, particularly those involving communal violence.
Observers note that works dealing with riots, political conflicts and minority experiences often face heightened scrutiny because of their social and political sensitivity. At the same time, writers, researchers and human rights advocates argue that documenting the experiences of victims and survivors remains an important part of the historical record.
The Muzaffarnagar riots continue to be a subject of public debate more than a decade after the violence. Several books, reports, academic studies and documentary projects have examined their impact on affected communities, especially displaced Muslim families who struggled to return to normal life.
For Joe Sacco, the project represented another effort to use graphic journalism to tell stories from communities affected by conflict and displacement. However, with Penguin Random House India opting not to distribute the title, Indian readers may find it more difficult to access the book through mainstream domestic publishing channels.
The controversy has also renewed discussion about editorial responsibility, legal scrutiny and the balance between publishing freedom and factual verification. As debate continues, The Once and Future Riot has become a talking point not only because of its account of the 2013 violence, but also because of the circumstances surrounding its blocked distribution in one of the world’s largest book markets.
