Sonia Gandhi to release memoir ‘Belonging’ in November

Sonia Gandhi, the veteran Congress leader and former party president, is set to release her 544-page memoir, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, on November 10. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, the book chronicles her life from her childhood in post-war Italy to her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi in Cambridge and her subsequent entry into Indian politics.

The memoir addresses significant personal and political milestones, including the assassinations of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and her 2004 decision to decline the office of Prime Minister. Gandhi stated that the book is an attempt to acknowledge the “humanness” and motivations of her family members, rather than viewing them solely through a political lens.

The announcement has drawn varied political reactions. Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi praised the memoir as a courageous and personal account of their mother’s life. Conversely, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the release but urged Gandhi to ensure the book is candid, specifically regarding allegations of corruption and the influence she held during the Manmohan Singh administration.