‘There’ll Be Tamasha’: Sonia Gandhi’s Disclaimer For ‘Belonging’ Readers

News india ‘There’ll Be Tamasha’: Sonia Gandhi’s Disclaimer For ‘Belonging’ Readers

Last Updated:October 27, 2026, 18:56 IST

Explaining her decision to write the book, Sonia Gandhi said she felt the need to correct accounts about her that she believed were inaccurate.

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has said her upcoming memoir, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, is likely to trigger strong reactions after it releases on November 10. She said on Tuesday that the book would allow her to tell her own story, as much of what has been written about her over the years is either exaggerated or invented.

“There’s bound to be some tamasha when this book comes out," Gandhi said in a video shared on X. She said she wanted to record events as they happened rather than leave her life and experiences to be defined by accounts written by others.

The former Congress president acknowledged that readers could have different reactions to her account, with some changing their opinion of her and others developing a more negative view.

Why Sonia Gandhi Decided To Write Her Memoir

Explaining her decision to write the book, Sonia Gandhi said she felt the need to correct accounts about her that she believed were inaccurate.

“Well, I felt that since a lot had been written about me and a lot of it was not quite correct, you know, it was either invented or exaggerated. So it gave me a feel of being able to now put down my story and describe facts and things as they were, as they really were," she said.

Gandhi also clarified that she did not want to describe the book simply as her version of events. Instead, she wanted to present her own story, while recognising that people could have different views about her life.

“Or let us say my, not version, I wouldn’t say version, but my story. People have different views," she added.

She said the response to the memoir could vary, depending on how readers viewed her account. “Some people may change their view about me. Some people’s view may become worse, but that’s what it is. That’s what happens when you write a book or when you are in public life," Gandhi said.

She repeated that she expected reactions after the book’s release, adding, “There’s bound to be tamasha, as you would say it here."

Sonia Gandhi Recalls Opposition To Rajiv Becoming PM

Gandhi also briefly referred to the circumstances surrounding her husband, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, becoming prime minister. She said she had been completely opposed when he was asked to take up the post.

“I don’t know if I should tell the whole story," she said before referring to the episode. She did not elaborate on the circumstances in the remarks provided.

What The Memoir Covers

Belonging: A Journey of Love traces Gandhi’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her life in India as the wife of Rajiv Gandhi and daughter-in-law of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

The book revisits personal tragedies that shaped her life, including Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984 and Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in 1991. It also covers her eventual entry into politics and reflects on the love, loss and sense of belonging that shaped her life over six decades in India.

When Will The Book Be Released?

The memoir is scheduled to be published internationally on November 10 by Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. The announcement was made on August 18.

The Indian edition faced uncertainty following a disagreement between Penguin Random House India and Gandhi’s representatives over editorial changes that her team refused to accept. HarperCollins India subsequently stepped in to publish the Indian edition, which is also expected to be released on November 10, the same day as the international edition.

About the Author

Shuddhanta PatraSenior Sub-Editor

Shuddhanta Patra is an Indian journalist with about nine years of experience in covering national politics, geopolitics, defence, diplomacy and international affairs. Her reporting focuses on South As...Read More

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