'This is not a political book'; Sonia Gandhi explains why she wrote her autobiography

NEW DELHI: Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has said that her forthcoming autobiography is not a political book but an account of her personal life. She said several accounts of her family published so far had failed to adequately reflect their true personalities and life experiences. Through the book, she has tried to present them honestly as people she knew closely and loved.

In an article written for a national daily ahead of the publication of her book, Belonging: A Journey of Love, Sonia said it contains memories of her life journey and the country she gradually learned to call home.

Sonia said she had kept her private life away from public attention for most of her life. Even after entering politics following tragic events, she tried to protect her privacy as much as possible. Writing openly about her own life was something she had never imagined doing. However, stepping away slightly from the demands of public life gave her an opportunity to look back and reflect on her journey, she wrote.

Looking back, Sonia said love had been the one emotion that guided her throughout her life, along with the loyalty that grew out of it.

Her journey began in England, where a 19-year-old woman from a small town in Italy met Rajiv Gandhi, an Indian student. That meeting eventually took her to a new country and a new family. She also recalled her close relationship with her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, and the years she spent raising her children.

However, her life was also marked by immense personal tragedies. She had to cope with the loss of her mother-in-law and later her husband, both of whom were assassinated. Sonia said her love for her husband and her deep emotional bond with India gave her the strength to overcome these difficult times. She described India as the country she had truly come to consider her home.

Sonia said a sense of responsibility, despite her personal reluctance, eventually led her to public life. Although much has been written about her family, she pointed out that very few accounts have adequately explored their motivations, struggles and human weaknesses.

Having lived in India for more than five decades, Sonia said she had witnessed major changes in the country. She first observed these developments as an outsider and later as someone closely associated with the country's political centre. The book captures these experiences and her journey in the country she embraced as home, she said.

The autobiography also recalls several major events, including the death of Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash, the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984 and the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. It also discusses the Congress-led alliance's victory in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections and Sonia's decision to decline the opportunity to become Prime Minister. Instead, she chose to lead the Congress and its allies. The Congress-led coalition subsequently remained in power for the next 10 years. Her memoir includes her experiences and recollections of these political developments as well.