A Memoir Long in the Making

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has opened up about the upcoming release of her highly anticipated global memoir, Belonging: A Journey Of Love, acknowledging that her venture into writing her own history is bound to spark considerable public discourse and debate.

Set for a worldwide release on November 10—just days after the Diwali festivities—the 79-year-old leader shared insights into her motivations for writing the book. Having spent decades as a central figure in Indian public life, Gandhi noted that much has been written about her over the years, a significant portion of which she considers "either invented or exaggerated."

In a video released on social media, Gandhi explained that the project gives her an opportunity to present facts and events as they actually occurred, offering her personal narrative rather than the external interpretations that have dominated public discourse for decades.

Navigating Public Reaction

Addressing the potential fallout of her revelations, Gandhi expressed pragmatism regarding how the public and political observers might receive the book. She remarked that while some readers might alter their perspectives of her, others might form harsher views.

"That's what happens when you write a book, or when you are in public life. There's bound to be a tamasha as you would say it here," Gandhi stated, using the colloquial term for a public spectacle or commotion.

The memoir touches upon several pivotal moments in modern Indian political history, including her initial reluctance regarding her late husband, Rajiv Gandhi, stepping into the role of Prime Minister following the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

From Cambridge to Delhi

Beyond the political turbulence, Belonging: A Journey Of Love also delves into the personal side of Gandhi's life, tracing her roots back to a small Greek restaurant called The Varsity in Cambridge, England, where her relationship with Rajiv Gandhi began in 1965.

Reflecting on their initial meeting through a mutual friend, Gandhi recalled feeling an immediate connection that blossomed into a shared life of partnership and family. The upcoming book aims to bridge her private personal history with the immense public responsibilities she undertook upon moving to India.

The international edition of the memoir is being published globally by Alfred A Knopf, while HarperCollins India is managing its release within the country.