In her recently released autobiography, Belonging: A Journey of Love, Sonia Gandhi shares the story of how Rajiv Gandhi introduced her to various aspects of Indian culture while they were both living in London. Before their union with the Gandhi family, Rajiv exposed Sonia to a rich tapestry of Indian arts and traditions, including Mohammed Rafi's ghazals, Ravi Shankar's sitar music, and Satyajit Ray's celebrated films.
During their time together in London, the couple frequented the Imperial laboratory, where Rajiv developed photographs of Sonia, their friends, and nature. The duo also spent hours at the HMV record shop, indulging in their shared passion for music while demonstrating self-restraint by purchasing only one record each. Rajiv's musical tastes were eclectic, encompassing jazz, pop, Western classical music, and various genres of Indian music. He even gifted Sonia records featuring Mohammed Rafi's ghazals and Ravi Shankar's sitar performances.
Rajiv also introduced Sonia to the world of cinema by taking her to watch Merchant Ivory Productions’ film Shakespeare Wallah and Satyajit Ray's acclaimed Apu Trilogy (Pather Panchali, Aparajito, and Apur Sansar). These cinematic experiences provided Sonia with a glimpse into different facets of Indian life.
Belonging: A Journey of Love offers readers an insightful look into Sonia Gandhi's life beyond politics, revealing her personal side and providing a more intimate account of her experiences. The book was launched on November 10 and is now available for purchase on Blinkit and Amazon.