Sonia Gandhi's story represents the greatest transformational journey made by any world leader in the last four decades. Circumstance and tragedy, rather than ambition, paved her path to power. Born into a traditional, middle-class Italian family, Sonia met and fell in love with Rajiv Gandhi, son of future Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, while studying English in Cambridge. Cruelly tested by the assassinations of her mother-in-law and of her husband, Sonia grew into a strong, authoritative but always private figure, now president of a coalition ruling over a billion people in the world's largest democracy. Through exclusive interviews with members of Sonia's party, political opponents and family friends, Rani Singh casts new light on Sonia. In the first mainstream biography of this inspirational figure, the author's compelling narrative retraces the path of the brave and beautiful Sonia Gandhi, examining what her life and legacy mean for India.
In the year 1965, Sonia Maino, a 19-year-old Italian student met a young Indian boy, Rajiv Gandhi, while they were both studying in Cambridge. She was born into a modest family in suburban Turin, where her father was a strict man who kept a close eye on his three daughters. Much to his chagrin, his painfully-shy middle daughter, of whom he was especially protective, fell in love with a man belonging the most powerful family in India. This marked the beginning of a story unlike any other - of a carefree Italian girl who was compelled to take on the murky world of rajneeti. With information sourced from close friends and colleagues, this book examines how Sonias courage, honesty and dedication have made her a leader in the eyes of one-sixth of humanity. From her idyllic childhood to her passionate love affair and from her days as a docile daughter-in-law to her current status of being the only Indian politician to have refused prime ministership.
This book is a portrait of Rajiv Gandhi by the person who knew him best: his wife Sonia. It is in four parts, the first and last being in the nature of meditations - one in words, the other in images. In the first, Sonia Gandhi reveals Rajiv through recollections and reflections, delicate and restrained in tone but powerful in resonance. In the last, Rajiv discloses the essence of himself in a gallery of his own photographs. The biographical narrative in between progresses through pictures and extended captions, interweaving Rajiv's personal history with the milieu in which it unfolded.
Remarkable for their sensitivity and humour, and replete with vivid descriptions of major personalities and events of their times, the letters chart Indira Gandhi's developments from a shy school girl into a charismatic political leader.
Sonia Gandhi was born in Orbassano-a small town in Italy near Turin on 9th of December 1946. She was full of life and a bubbly youngster who wanted to be a teacher. She met Rajiv Gandhi when she was studying in London. Both developed an instant liking for each other which resulted in marriage and Sonia became a member of Gandhi family. This introduced her to politics in the later stage of her life and made her the top politician of the biggest democracy in the world. But after reaching on top the way she refused the top post, that of a Prime Minister, made her the best amongst such politicians who are in politics merely for their lust for posts and power. So what if she could not become a teacher she has definately given a teaching to Indian politics.
Rajiv, authored by Sonia Gandhi in 1992, the year after her husband's assassination, was a portrait of him in the full current of his life. This book is a portrait of him too - but with a difference. It is one of which in a sense he is the author, since it is entirely composed of his photographs. Rajiv Gandhi, India's youngest-ever Prime Minister, was known world-wide for his qualities of leadership and his personal charisma. However, until the publication of Rajiv, in which some of his photographs appeared for the first time, few were aware that he was also an accomplished photographer. In this volume, Sonia Gandhi offers a wider selection of his photographs. Her brief but informative introduction explains his photography in context and discloses the significance it held for him. The photographs in the book, most of which have never been published before, span almost four decades, from his childhood to his last year in office. They have been grouped under the broad themes of family, nature and people. Within these categories are presented entrancing landscapes, minutely observed particulars of nature, abstract studies and fascinating family vignettes.
Sonia Gandhi: Trails of Triumph traces the life of the political genius who pulled the sinking ship of the Congress out from the troubled waters and restored the party its glory. This book depicts her journey from the warm lanes of Italy to becoming the daughter-in-law of the first family of India (Nehru-Gandhi) and her emergence as a powerful figure in the Indian polity and one of the most influential persons on the Globe. Unlike the conventional biographies that take the shape of history, this book charts the metamorphosis of the shy Sonia into a charismatic leader of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition at the Centre. It is rather an evolution of the mind and the personality. The book takes stock of the various factors that led to the 'making' of Sonia Gandhi. It includes the young lady's fairy-tale marriage to the charismatic Rajiv Gandhi, her relationship with her in-laws; the tragedy which she had to bear in the tragic killing of Rajiv Gandhi, the party's subsequent search for a leader that ultimately made PV Narasimha Rao the Prime Minister and the various pulls and pressures of intra-party dynamics that orchestrated the crumbling of the Congress giant. Much to her chagrin, the political and social milieu of India persuaded Sonia Gandhi to enter politics. The call of duty to keep the Congress strong and the country united prevailed over Sonia and she took the plunge. Her elaborate efforts to revive the battered Congress and bring it back to power and her humble no to the post of the Prime Minister of India, when it was hers as a matter of right, has been well documented in the various chapters. The book also covers the initial exultation in the Congress office when Sonia took charge, her attempts to alter the party system according to her vision, the stinging defeat in 1999 elections and the gradual rise of Congress to political heights. The book is up-to-date, and includes the leadership role played by Congress after the recent terror attacks in Mumbai, and the thumping win that Congress secured for itself in the recent Assembly Elections in six states including the most free and fair polls in Jammu and Kashmir. Professor Sood, the author, was fascinated by Rajiv's remark to his mother Indira Gandhi about Sonia, “I think this girl is special†. Sood has tried to bring to light all those facets of Sonia's personality and life that indeed make her special and true to her name, which in Russian means 'Wisdom'. Dr P Sood holds a Master's degree (Gold Medalist) and a PhD in Public Administration and Political Science from Punjab University, Chandigarh. Currently, he teaches in the University of Delhi. He has also lectured at various universities. Dr Sood has over the years been responsible for numerous teaching innovations and has been conferred various honours including Outstanding Person of the 20th Century, Oxford, UK, the 20th Century Award for Achievement, IBC Cambridge, England, and is mentioned in the International Who's Who of Intellectuals, Cambridge. Dr Sood is widely travelled and has published four books on Indira Gandhi. His fifth book was on Rajiv Gandhi. His recent publication United Nations & The 21st Century was released by Sonia Gandhi at 10 Janpath in 2006. His books are an eloquent testimony to his commitment to Indira Gandhi's philosophy, and have established him as an author of great erudition. He has to his credit many research papers and articles published in various oriental and occidental journals. His writings have been commended for their versatile scholarship, crusading zeal and depth of conviction by the academic community in India and abroad. Dr Sood has the distinction of being appointed Fellow, International Centre for Asian Studies, Hong Kong, thus joining the galaxy of international academics.
