Belonging: the autobiography of Sonia Gandhi
BOOKS
8 NOVEMBER 2026
- Belonging: A Journey of Love is the autobiography of Sonia Gandhi released on 10th November 2026.
- Sonia Gandhi describes the book primarily as a personal and human story rather than a standard political manifesto, focusing on her private world, family life, and inner reflections.
- Early Romance: The narrative begins in 1965 in Cambridge, England, where a 19-year-old Sonia Maino meets and falls in love with Rajiv Gandhi.
- Moving to India: It chronicles her transition from a small village in Italy to India, learning Hindi, wearing saris, adjusting to a new culture, and joining one of the country’s most prominent political families.
- Tragedy and Public Life: The memoir covers profound personal losses—including the deaths of Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi—and her eventual, reluctant entry into public life and leadership of the Indian National Congress.
- The Party in Crisis: By 1996 and 1997, the Congress party was fracturing, suffering severe electoral defeats, and facing high-profile defections.
- The Weight of Guilt: Senior leaders pressured her, asking how she could watch the party collapse. She explains that looking at portraits of Rajiv and Indira Gandhi made her feel guilty, as she felt the values they fought for were being threatened. Despite her children’s strong disapproval, she officially joined the Congress as a primary member in 1997.
- Taking the Reins: Just a year later, in 1998, she was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress, a role she would hold for a record-breaking tenure.
- The 2004 Victory: She successfully rebuilt the party and led the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition to a major national electoral victory in 2004.
- Renouncing the PM Post: In a move that shocked the nation, she famously declined to become the Prime Minister of India, choosing instead to nominate Dr. Manmohan Singh for the role while she managed the coalition as UPA Chairperson.
- Modern Stances: Her memoir brings the story up to the modern era, explicitly addressing her growing concerns over the state of India’s democratic framework and institutions over the last 12 years.
