Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has opened up about her forthcoming memoir, saying she is ready to tell her own story while acknowledging that the book could generate controversy and public debate. “Bound to be some tamasha,” Gandhi remarked while discussing the possible reactions to her memoir, indicating that she expects considerable attention once the book is released. The former Congress president's decision to recount her experiences marks a significant development, given her decades-long association with some of the most consequential events in Indian politics.
‘Now it's my turn to tell my story’
In a video shared on X on Tuesday, Gandhi explained that she had decided to write the memoir, titled Belonging: A Journey of Love, because she believed several accounts of her life published over the years contained inaccuracies, inventions and exaggerations.
She recalled opposing the prospect of her husband, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, taking over as Prime Minister. Referring to the numerous accounts written about her, she said the memoir had given her an opportunity to record events as she remembered them.
Gandhi said she wanted to describe the facts as they really were, emphasising that the book would present her own account rather than another person's interpretation of her life.
In the caption accompanying the video, she wrote, “After all, others have spent decades telling my ‘story’, now it’s my turn.”
‘Some people may change their views’
Gandhi acknowledged that the memoir could influence public perceptions of her, although she did not expect every reader to respond favourably.
She said some people might revise their opinions after reading the book, while others could develop a more negative view. Such reactions, she suggested, were an inevitable part of writing about one's life, particularly after spending decades in public life.
The Congress leader appeared prepared for the debate that might follow publication, describing the possibility of controversy with the Hindi word tamasha.
Memoir to release on November 10
Scheduled for release on November 10, Belonging: A Journey of Love traces Gandhi's journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her relationship with Rajiv Gandhi, whom she met while studying in Cambridge.
The book also revisits the personal tragedies that shaped her life, including the assassinations of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
Gandhi, who went on to become the longest-serving president of the Congress, has largely avoided discussing several aspects of her personal life in public. Her forthcoming memoir is expected to offer a first-person account of experiences that have been extensively examined by political commentators, journalists and biographers.
Her latest remarks have added to the anticipation surrounding the book, particularly her stated intention to address accounts of her life that she considers inaccurate or exaggerated.