'Time to Tell My Story': Sonia Gandhi Reflects on Memoir 'Belonging'
Sonia Gandhi opens up about the motivations behind her personal memoir, reflecting on her life, love for Rajiv Gandhi, and her journey in public life.
Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has opened up about the deeply personal motivations that led her to pen her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love. In a recent reflection shared via X, she expressed that after decades of public scrutiny, she felt it was finally the right moment to share her narrative in her own words.
Breaking the Silence
For years, the public and the media have written extensively about the life of the Congress leader. However, Sonia Gandhi revealed that she and her late husband, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, had once decided that attempting to counter every report or rumor written about them was a futile effort.
Despite that initial stance, she noted that a turning point arrived where the need for a personal account outweighed the desire for silence. "There came a time when I felt that I should tell my own story," she stated in an interaction with 'The Hindu', which she later shared on social media.
A Tale of Love and Duty
Far from being just a political chronicle, Sonia Gandhi describes Belonging: A Journey of Love as a love story. She explains that the book chronicles her evolving affection for Rajiv Gandhi’s family and the nation of India. It was this very love, she suggests, that eventually transitioned from a private emotion into a public responsibility, guiding her entry into the political arena.
Staying True to Her Roots
Reflecting on her character over the last six decades, Gandhi emphasized the enduring nature of the values she acquired during her upbringing. She highlighted several core principles that have remained her guiding light:
- Unwavering loyalty to family and friends.
- Sincerity and a deep empathy for others.
- A steadfast commitment to being dutiful and responsible.
She believes that in these fundamental aspects, she remains the same person that Rajiv Gandhi met sixty years ago.
A Proud Tribute from Rahul Gandhi
The release of the memoir has drawn a heartfelt response from her son, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Taking to X, he celebrated his mother's resilience and consistency throughout her long tenure in the public eye.
"Sixty years in public life, and still the same person. Proud of you, Ma," Rahul Gandhi wrote, sharing his mother's reflections on her values and her journey.