Sonia Gandhi Joins X, Shares Memories of Rajiv Gandhi
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has made her debut on the social media platform X, sharing personal memories of her late husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Her first post featured a video in which she recalled their first meeting in Cambridge, England, and described Rajiv as a gentle and good-looking person.
The social media debut comes ahead of the release of her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, scheduled for November 10, 2026. Through the video, Sonia Gandhi offers a glimpse into the personal experiences and relationship that shaped an important part of her life.
Sonia Gandhi Recalls Their First Meeting in Cambridge
In the video shared on X, Sonia Gandhi revisited her student days in Cambridge, where she first met Rajiv Gandhi. She recalled visiting a small Greek restaurant called Varsity, which was frequented by European and Indian students.
Sonia explained that she had been looking for places serving food closer to her Italian preferences. The restaurant eventually became the setting for her first meeting with Rajiv Gandhi, who was also studying in Cambridge at the time.
According to her account, a mutual friend introduced them. Their first meeting was followed by friendship, social gatherings and sightseeing trips with other students. She also recalled attending a Valentine's Day party with fellow students.
Looking back at photographs in the video, Sonia described Rajiv as a gentle person whose appearance and manner left a strong impression on her. She said she felt almost immediately that he was someone she would want to be with, adding that she later understood that he had felt similarly.
Her recollections offer a personal account of the beginnings of their relationship, long before Rajiv Gandhi entered national politics and became Prime Minister of India.
A Memoir About Love, Family and Personal Loss
Sonia Gandhi's upcoming memoir is titled Belonging: A Journey of Love. She announced the book through her first post on X, describing it as a story shaped by love, laughter and memories shared with Rajiv Gandhi.
The book is scheduled for publication on November 10, 2026. Publisher information lists the English-language edition at 544 pages, with Alfred A. Knopf publishing it internationally and HarperCollins India handling its release in India. Pre-orders have also been made available through the publisher's channels.
The memoir traces Sonia Gandhi's journey from her childhood in Italy to her life in India and her relationship with the Nehru-Gandhi family. It is expected to explore her experiences of marriage, family responsibilities, political life and the personal losses that profoundly affected her.
The book's title reflects the themes of identity, belonging and the process of building a life in a country different from the one in which she grew up. Her story also provides a personal perspective on decades of major political developments in India.
Sonia Gandhi's Earlier Social Media Debut on Instagram
Before joining X, Sonia Gandhi had also made her debut on Instagram. In her introductory message on that platform, she described Belonging: A Journey of Love as a story of love, duty, loss and finding a place to belong.
The announcement offered readers an early look at the memoir and signalled her willingness to share more of her personal experiences publicly. Her X debut continued that approach, focusing on her memories of Rajiv Gandhi rather than political commentary.
The video included photographs connected to their early relationship and the restaurant where they first met. It provided a visual introduction to the personal story behind the forthcoming publication.
Rajiv Gandhi's Life and Their Shared History
Rajiv Gandhi served as India's Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989. Before entering politics, he had trained as a pilot and worked with Indian Airlines. He married Sonia Gandhi in 1968, and their family life later became closely connected with Indian public affairs.
Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in May 1991 during an election campaign in Tamil Nadu. His death was a major turning point in Sonia Gandhi's life. The assassination of her mother-in-law, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in 1984 had also brought personal tragedy to the family.
Sonia Gandhi later became a prominent Congress leader and served as the party's president for many years. Her political career and her private life have often been discussed together, but the forthcoming memoir provides an opportunity for readers to learn about her experiences in her own words.
Why the Memoir Is Attracting Attention
Sonia Gandhi's memoir is attracting interest because of her long association with one of India's most prominent political families and her relatively private personal life. Her recollections of meeting Rajiv Gandhi offer a different perspective from the public image associated with his political career.
The book is also expected to examine how personal experiences, family responsibilities and major political events influenced her understanding of identity and belonging. Its publication may provide additional insight into the experiences behind her public role, although readers will need to consult the full book for its complete account.
Her first post on X has therefore served two purposes: introducing her presence on the platform and drawing attention to the upcoming memoir. The video focuses on the beginnings of her relationship with Rajiv Gandhi, while the book promises a broader account of her journey through love, family, loss and public life.
With the release scheduled for November 10, 2026, readers will soon have access to the memoir's full narrative. Until then, the video offers a brief but personal preview of the memories Sonia Gandhi has chosen to share.
