Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has shared her opposition to her husband Rajiv Gandhi becoming prime minister and revealed her memoir aims to correct false accounts of her life. She also warned the book may provoke some controversy upon release.
Opposition to Rajiv Gandhi’s Prime Ministership
Sonia Gandhi recalled that she was completely against her husband Rajiv Gandhi being asked to become prime minister. This candid admission was made in a video released prior to the launch of her memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love. The memoir is set to be published on November 10.
Purpose of Writing the Memoir
She explained that many stories about her have been either invented or exaggerated over the years. Sonia wrote the memoir to present facts as they really were and to tell her own story for the first time. In the video, she said, “Well, I felt that since a lot had been written about me and a lot of it was not quite correct. It was either invented or exaggerated. So, it gave me a feel of being able to now put down my story and describe facts and things as they really were.”
Anticipation of Controversy
Sonia acknowledged that some people might change their views about her, and some may even view her more negatively. She stated that this is a normal outcome when a public figure writes a book. She added, “There’s bound to be some tamasha when this book comes out. After all, others have spent decades telling my ‘story’, now it’s my turn.”
Insights Into the Memoir
The 544-page memoir covers her journey from childhood in Italy through her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi and long political career. It also revisits tragedies affecting the Gandhi family, including the assassinations of former prime minister Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Sonia’s political career milestones such as the 2004 Congress-led United Progressive Alliance victory and her decision to decline the prime minister role are also detailed.
Controversy With the Publisher
Before its release, the memoir became involved in a dispute between Sonia Gandhi and publisher Penguin Random House India. Disagreements focused on passages regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the India-China border standoff, and communal tensions. While Penguin acknowledged the disagreement, it denied any external pressure, a claim made by the Congress party.
Social Media Activity
Sonia Gandhi has recently joined Instagram and X to promote the memoir. On X, she shared a tender memory of meeting Rajiv Gandhi at a Cambridge restaurant, calling it the start of her journey of love. The video also showed her uncertain about how much of her life story to reveal in the book.
“There’s bound to be some tamasha when this book comes out. After all, others have spent decades telling my ‘story’, now it’s my turn.”
