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Sonia Gandhi to release memoir covering her life and political career in November

The former Congress party president's book will detail her journey from Italy to leading India's historic ruling party.

Updated Aug 31, 2026 · 03:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

Former Congress party president Sonia Gandhi will publish her memoir, titled 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', in November through Alfred A Knopf and William Collins.
The book is expected to offer her perspective on key events in modern Indian history, including the assassinations of her husband and mother-in-law, and her 2004 decision to decline the prime ministership.
A publishing dispute emerged in India over manuscript edits, with Congress party figures alleging political pressure and publisher Penguin Random House disputing those claims.

Sonia Gandhi's autobiography, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', is scheduled for publication in November by Alfred A Knopf in the US and William Collins in the UK.[BBC News]
Gandhi became president of the Congress party in 1998 after joining the organization in 1997, following years of avoiding political office after the 1991 assassination of her husband, Rajiv Gandhi.[BBC News]
Despite leading the Congress coalition to electoral victory in 2004, Gandhi declined to become prime minister and instead selected Manmohan Singh for the role.[BBC News]
Gandhi led the Congress party through two consecutive national election victories before handing the leadership to her son, Rahul Gandhi, in 2017.[BBC News]

Congress leaders alleged that publisher Penguin Random House India faced government pressure to edit parts of the manuscript, a claim Penguin disputed while stating it was willing to publish the book during discussions.[BBC News]
It remains unconfirmed whether Gandhi's memoir will address competing accounts regarding her 2004 decision to decline the prime ministership, such as former minister Natwar Singh's claim that Rahul Gandhi strongly opposed her taking office out of safety concerns.[BBC News]