Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), has shared a video on social media recalling how her love story with former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi began in 1965 at a small Greek restaurant called The Varsity in Cambridge, England.
In her first post on X, Sonia Gandhi introduced her forthcoming memoir, “Belonging: A Journey of Love”, which is scheduled for release on 10 November, reports NDTV.
She also shared personal memories of her life with Rajiv Gandhi, offering a glimpse into the early days of their relationship through recollections and old photographs.
“In a small Greek restaurant in Cambridge, my journey of love began. Rajiv and I created a world filled with love, laughter and memories. On 10th November, I share that world with you,” she said.
Looking back on their first meeting in 1965, Sonia spoke fondly of Rajiv and recalled the qualities that attracted her to him.
“Of course he was very good-looking,” she said.
She also recalled the difficulty of finding good food in England at the time, when restaurants were relatively scarce.
She eventually discovered a Greek restaurant frequented by Indian and Italian students, which became the setting for the beginning of their relationship.
“That is when I met Rajiv; in that very restaurant. When I first met him, I felt almost immediately that he was someone I would really love to be with. And of course, I learned out he felt the same. I remember when I first met him, a common friend introduced us and then we became friends. We used to go to parties with friends,” Sonia recalled.
Reflecting on Rajiv’s personality, she said his gentle nature had made a lasting impression on her from their first meeting.
“He was a very gentle-looking person. Of course he was very good-looking, but that gentleness came through. That was something that really touched me and struck me. I’ll never forget when I first met him,” she added.
Sonia’s post marked her debut on X. She had also joined Instagram on Thursday, using her first post on the platform to introduce her upcoming memoir and express her gratitude for sharing its first look with readers.
“Hello everyone, I’m truly grateful to share this moment with you all: the first look of Belonging: A Journey of Love. It is a story of love, duty, loss, and finding a place to belong. I look forward to sharing it with you,” Sonia Gandhi wrote in her first Instagram post while sharing the first look of the book.
In a video shared on Instagram, Sonia receives the first copies of her book and shares sweets with her daughter, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The two are also seen hugging.
The memoir will be released on 10 November, and pre-orders are already open. Alfred A Knopf is publishing the book globally, while HarperCollins India is handling its release in India.
Spanning 544 pages, the memoir traces Sonia Gandhi’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her meeting and eventual relationship with Rajiv.
It also recounts the personal tragedies that shaped her life, including the assassinations of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and explores her subsequent role in Indian politics.
