Sonia Gandhi Releases Memoir Detailing Political Rivalry and Personal Grief

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi released her memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love," on November 10, 2026. Published by HarperCollins India and Alfred A. Knopf in the U.S., the book follows a publication impasse with Penguin Random House India, which Gandhi claims was due to the publisher's unease with her criticisms of the government.

In the memoir, Gandhi describes her political rivalry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a clash of ideological visions—secular inclusiveness versus RSS-driven fundamentalism. She reveals she has had practically no real contact with Modi over his twelve-year tenure, noting that their rare interactions are limited to formal greetings where he avoids eye contact. Gandhi also characterizes the 1975 Emergency as a "mistake" and admits the Congress party was "too complacent" in allowing the growth of Hindutva politics.

The narrative details Gandhi's decision to decline the prime ministership in 2004, citing security concerns shared by her children, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, following the assassinations of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi. She explains her selection of Manmohan Singh for the role based on his "unquestionable" integrity. The book also covers personal struggles, including her battle with breast cancer and the emotional aftermath of Rajiv Gandhi's 1991 assassination, for which she blames the V.P. Singh government for withdrawing his security cover.

The Bharatiya Janata Party responded by accusing Gandhi of attempting to "whitewash" historical wrongs. BJP spokesperson C.R. Kesavan specifically targeted her reflections on the Emergency and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, while other NDA leaders disputed her account of declining the premiership in 2004.