Politics

Sonia Gandhi Memoir: Belonging - Life, Love & Politics

Sonia Gandhi's memoir is Belonging: A Journey of Love, a 544-page book due on 10 November 2026 from HarperCollins India, Knopf and William Collins. It covers h…

Swipe to explore ›
AiTimeline Home
9 DEC 1946

Born in Post-War Italy

Grew up near Turin in a working-class family.

AiTimeline Home
1965

Love in Cambridge

At 18 or 19 she met Rajiv Gandhi.

AiTimeline Home
1968

Marriage and a New Home

She married Rajiv and moved into Indira Gandhi's home.

AiTimeline Home
1975

The Emergency, From Inside

Rajiv opposed it; Sanjay pushed for it, she says.

AiTimeline Home
23 JUN 1980

Sanjay Gandhi Dies

Rajiv is drawn into politics.

AiTimeline Home
1983

An Indian Citizen

She took Indian citizenship in 1983.

AiTimeline Home
31 OCT 1984

Indira Gandhi Assassinated

Sonia held her on the drive to hospital.

AiTimeline Home
21 MAY 1991

Rajiv Gandhi Killed

An LTTE suicide bomber killed him on the campaign trail.

AiTimeline Home
THREE LOSSES

The Deaths That Changed Everything

1980, 1984 and 1991.

AiTimeline Home
1998

Congress President

She took charge out of duty, she says.

AiTimeline Home
MAY 2004

She Declines to Be PM

She backed Manmohan Singh instead.

AiTimeline Home
PUBLIC LIFE

Three Decades of Roles

President, MP, UPA chair, NAC chair.

AiTimeline Home
HER LIFE

From Italy to Delhi

The milestones the memoir follows.

AiTimeline Home
18 AUG 2026

Knopf Announces Belonging

544 pages, 100,000 first printing.

AiTimeline Home
28 AUG 2026

The Penguin India Row

Reports of refused edits; the publisher disputes them.

AiTimeline Home
TWO ACCOUNTS

What Was Reported, What Was Denied

The exact issue remains undisclosed.

AiTimeline Home
4 SEP 2026

HarperCollins Steps In

Confirms the Indian edition for 10 November.

AiTimeline Home
6 NOV 2026

First Excerpts

Tandoori chicken, the sari and the wedding.

AiTimeline Home
7 NOV 2026

A Rare Interview

Her first interview in about a decade.

AiTimeline Home
9 NOV 2026

"Not a Political Book"

She calls the memoir a personal one.

AiTimeline Home
THE BOOK

Belonging: A Journey of Love

HarperCollins India, Knopf, William Collins.

AiTimeline Home
10 NOV 2026

Release Day

The full book goes on sale.

AiTimeline Home

Want the full timeline?

Read the complete story, FAQs and key facts.

AiTimeline Home