New Delhi, Oct 2026 : Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has offered a glimpse into her personal life by recalling how her love story with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi began in 1965 at a small Greek restaurant called The Varsity in Cambridge, England.
In her debut post on X, Sonia Gandhi shared a video featuring personal memories of her relationship with Rajiv Gandhi, along with old photographs, ahead of the release of her forthcoming memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, scheduled for November 10.
“In a small Greek restaurant in Cambridge, my journey of love began. Rajiv and I created a world filled with love, laughter and memories. On 10th November, I share that world with you,” she wrote.
The video offers a rare personal account of the early days of their relationship, taking readers back to the time when the two first met as young people in Cambridge.
Sonia Gandhi Remembers First Meeting With Rajiv Gandhi
Recalling their first encounter at The Varsity in 1965, Sonia Gandhi spoke warmly about Rajiv Gandhi's personality and the qualities that attracted her to him.
“Of course he was very good-looking,” she said, describing the former Prime Minister's appearance and gentle nature.
Sonia Gandhi also recalled the difficulties of finding good food in England during those days. She explained that restaurants were relatively few and that she eventually discovered a Greek restaurant popular among Indian and Italian students.
It was at this restaurant that a common friend introduced her to Rajiv Gandhi. The introduction marked the beginning of a friendship that gradually developed into a relationship.
“That is when I met Rajiv; in that very restaurant. When I first met him, I felt almost immediately that he was someone I would really love to be with. And of course, I learned out he felt the same,” she recalled.
She said they subsequently became friends and began attending parties with their social circle.
Reflecting on her first impressions, Sonia Gandhi highlighted Rajiv Gandhi's gentle demeanour, saying it was something that had immediately touched her.
“He was a very gentle-looking person. Of course he was very good-looking, but that gentleness came through. That was something that really touched me and struck me. I'll never forget when I first met him,” she added.
Sonia Gandhi Makes Social Media Debut Ahead of Memoir
Sonia Gandhi's post marked her first appearance on X. Earlier on Thursday, she also joined Instagram, using her debut post to introduce her forthcoming book and share its first look.
“Hello everyone, I'm truly grateful to share this moment with you all: the first look of Belonging: A Journey of Love. It is a story of love, duty, loss, and finding a place to belong. I look forward to sharing it with you,” she wrote.
A video shared on Instagram showed Sonia Gandhi receiving the first copies of her memoir and sharing sweets with her daughter, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The two were also seen embracing, offering an intimate family moment ahead of the book's release.
Belonging: A Journey of Love to Release on November 10
Sonia Gandhi's 544-page memoir is scheduled to be released on November 10, with pre-orders already open. Alfred A. Knopf is publishing the book globally, while HarperCollins India is handling its release in India.
The memoir traces Sonia Gandhi's journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her meeting with Rajiv Gandhi and the development of their relationship. It also explores the personal experiences and tragedies that shaped her life.
These include the assassinations of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 and Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, events that profoundly affected the Gandhi family.
The book also examines Sonia Gandhi's subsequent journey into Indian politics and her role in the Congress party.
By sharing personal photographs and recollections ahead of the memoir's publication, Sonia Gandhi has offered readers a glimpse beyond her public life, bringing attention to the experiences of love, family, loss and duty that form the central themes of Belonging: A Journey of Love.
