Sonia Gandhi, a leader of the Indian National Congress, will release her memoir titled "Belonging: A Journey of Love" on Nov. 10, 2026 [1].
The book provides a rare personal account from one of India's most influential political figures. By detailing her transition from a private citizen to a central figure in Indian governance, the memoir offers insight into the internal dynamics of the Gandhi political dynasty.
Published by Alfred A. Knopf [1], the 544-page book [3] explores the trajectory of Gandhi's life over six decades. The narrative spans from her early years in Italy to her time in India as the wife of Rajiv Gandhi and the daughter-in-law of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi [2].
Gandhi, 79 [4], uses the text to reflect on the personal tragedies that influenced her entry into the public sphere. "Heartbreak and loss threw me into politics," Gandhi said [2].
The memoir addresses the complexities of her role within the Indian National Congress and her decision to decline the country's top political office. She describes the contrast between "the simplicity of my childhood in small-town Italy, to the complexity of my years in India" [2].
Scheduled for a fall release, the work focuses on the intersection of private grief and public duty. Gandhi said the book is intended to share a candid account of the choices that shaped her life [5].
“"Heartbreak and loss threw me into politics."”
The publication of this memoir comes at a time when the Indian National Congress is navigating a shifting political landscape. By documenting her decision to decline the premiership and her reflections on the dynasty's legacy, Gandhi provides a historical record that may influence how future generations of the party and the Indian electorate view the Gandhi family's influence on the state.
