The autobiography of senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has been released, titled Belonging: A Journey of Love. Published by HarperCollins India, the 544-page book spans various phases of her life, from her childhood in post-World War II Italy to her marriage into the Nehru-Gandhi family, the assassination of her husband Rajiv Gandhi, and her eventual entry into politics.
Strict Temperament and Sudden Anger
In the book, Sonia Gandhi opens up about the occasional sudden outbursts of her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi. Staff members were often so intimidated by her anger that they could barely speak. On one occasion, a staff member who forgot to remind her about an important meeting was ordered to stand quietly in the corner of a room as punishment for a repeated mistake, making other employees deeply uncomfortable.
Facing the Wall and Private Quarters
Recalling another incident, Sonia described seeing a man dressed in a kurta-dhoti standing completely still facing the wall in the private quarters of their home. Unfamiliar with major political figures at the time, she assumed he must be a senior Congress leader. When she returned about half an hour later with Amy Krishna, a senior member of Indira Gandhi personal staff, the man was still standing in the exact same position under strict orders.
Parliamentary Stress and Dining Table Outbursts
Sonia wrote that intense clashes with the opposition in Parliament sometimes triggered anger during meal times. During one such instance, Indira Gandhi pushed her plate across the long dining table in frustration. Before getting to know her well, Sonia was terrified by these outbursts, which reminded her of her own father temper. While she panicked, Rajiv and संजय would quietly wait out the tension, with Rajiv reassuring her that the anger would soon pass.
Regret and Broken Trust
The author noted that once her temper cooled, Indira Gandhi often felt remorse and would express regret in her own way to the person she had scolded. However, if a colleague broke her trust, forgiveness was off the table, and she would permanently distance herself from them without ever working with them again.
Finding Solace in Old Photographs and Sarees
According to the book, household chores provided a sense of calm for Indira Gandhi. She would occasionally ask Amy Krishna to fetch boxes of old photographs to sort them chronologically. She also organized her collection of sarees, including those inherited from her mother from before the Khadi movement. Slips were attached to bundles of well-preserved sarees so they could be easily identified and gifted to various relatives.
Grandchildren as a Stress Reliever
The arrival of grandchildren marked a shift, as stress levels in Indira Gandhi life began to drop. Sonia wrote that as the children grew, family members would send them to check on her mood. A simple smile or an innocent question from a grandchild would instantly melt away her annoyance and bring her immense joy.
