'Bound to be some tamasha': Sonia Gandhi Ready to Tell Her Own Story
Sonia Gandhi opens up about her new biography, promising to correct inaccuracies and share her true story in 'Belonging: A Journey of Love'.
For decades, the narrative of Sonia Gandhi's life has been shaped by others. Now, the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson is stepping forward to reclaim that narrative. In a candid revelation, Sonia Gandhi has spoken about her upcoming biography, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', stating her intention to set the record straight on the inaccuracies and exaggerations that have clouded her public image.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the CPP Chairperson shared a video explaining her decision to pen the memoir. With a touch of wit, she captioned the post: “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.”
Correcting the Record
In the shared video, the 79-year-old veteran leader expressed that much of what has been written about her over the years was either invented or distorted. She emphasized that the book is not merely a "version" of events, but her actual story, intended to describe facts as they truly happened.
One of the significant revelations mentioned was her stance on her husband's political ascent. Gandhi recalled that she was "totally against" former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi taking on the role of Prime Minister, a detail that adds a layer of personal conflict to her political journey.
Facing the Public Reaction
Sonia Gandhi is well aware that a memoir of this nature will spark intense debate. She acknowledged that the book might lead readers to reassess their opinions of her, whether for better or worse.
"People have different views. Some people may change their view about me, some people's view may become worse. But that's what it is. That's what happens when you write a book, or when you are in public life. There's bound to be a tamasha," she stated.
A Journey from Italy to India
The memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', promises to be a comprehensive chronicle of a life lived across continents and through immense tragedy. The book will cover several pivotal chapters of her life, including:
- Early Life: Her childhood spent in post-war Italy.
- The Romance: Her meeting with Rajiv Gandhi in 1965 while they were both students in Cambridge, England, leading to their marriage on February 25, 1968.
- Political Tragedy: The profound impact of the assassinations of her mother-in-law, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and her husband, Rajiv Gandhi.
- National Identity: Her evolving relationship with India, the country she adopted and eventually led as the longest-serving president of the Congress party.
Publication Details
The book is being published by Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group (a division of Penguin Random House, LLC, under the parent company Bertelsmann AG). The publisher had previously announced that the memoir would be released on November 10.