Sonia Gandhi, the 79-year-old veteran leader of the Congress, has provided a rare glimpse into her private life, reflecting on her decades in India and the personal tragedies that fundamentally altered her journey. In an interview with The Guardian, timed ahead of the publication of her memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love,' Gandhi spoke candidly about her entry into the country’s political sphere, noting that it was neither a planned endeavour nor a result of personal ambition.
For many years, Gandhi lived a relatively private existence alongside her husband, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, even as she became an integral part of one of India's most prominent political families. Her path changed dramatically following the assassination of her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, in 1984, and later, the assassination of her husband in 1991. Despite these profound losses, she chose to remain in the country, describing India as home for both her and her children.
Reflecting on her early years, Gandhi recounted her first meeting with Rajiv in the 1960s at a Greek restaurant in Cambridge. She was 18 and studying at a language school at the time. Describing the encounter as an "instant attraction" or "coup de foudre," she noted that she was unaware then that the man she had met was the grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru and the son of Indira Gandhi. She characterized Rajiv, who worked as a commercial airline pilot, as a loving and caring partner.
Gandhi also offered observations on her relationship with her mother-in-law, Indira. While admitting that she was initially intimidated by Indira’s formidable public reputation, she noted that the portrait of Indira within the family home was entirely different. According to Gandhi, while the press often depicted her as harsh, at home, she was like any other mother. Gandhi recounted how Indira once confided in her about the fear she felt upon first assuming the office of prime minister, highlighting the intense pressure and loneliness the role entailed.
The shift into the political limelight proved difficult for the family. Following the 1984 assassination of Indira Gandhi, which Sonia Gandhi witnessed at their New Delhi residence, Rajiv Gandhi was called upon to assume the mantle of leadership. Gandhi recalled her internal struggle at the time, noting that she had pleaded with her husband to avoid entering politics, describing the moment as feeling like a "knife going into my heart."
The subsequent years were marked by a pervasive sense of insecurity. The family’s life was increasingly defined by strict security measures, leading to a loss of the relative freedom her children, Rahul and Priyanka, had previously enjoyed. Gandhi spoke of the constant anxiety she felt whenever her husband returned late from his duties, fueled by a persistent fear that he might meet the same fate as his mother. That fear ultimately materialized in May 1991, when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during an election campaign in Tamil Nadu.
In her reflections, Gandhi touched upon the complex legacy of the Indira Gandhi years, including the 1975 Emergency. She maintained her belief that her mother-in-law was a "democrat at heart" and suggested that the decision to impose the Emergency had weighed heavily on Indira, who she believed eventually grew uncomfortable with the situation. The interview highlights these layers of personal experience, illustrating how, despite the immense weight of historical events and personal grief, Gandhi remained anchored to the country that became her permanent home.
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