Politics Also Affected Children’s Lives - Sonia Gandhi

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has recalled how political developments affected not only her family but also her children, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. In her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, she describes how several people who were once close to the family began distancing themselves after Indira Gandhi lost the 1977 Lok Sabha elections. She says the change in people's behaviour deeply affected the children. Recalling Rahul's seventh birthday celebrations that year, Sonia writes that the family had invited several of his friends for a small party at home. However, only his close friend Siddharth turned up. Initially, they thought the other children had been unable to attend due to some misunderstanding. But after contacting their parents, they realised that some had deliberately kept their children away. Sonia says the incident left Rahul deeply hurt and became his first painful lesson about human relationships. She also recalls that Rahul and Priyanka were upset by comments made by their classmates about Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Sonia says she comforted them by explaining the contributions their family had made to the country. According to her memoir, the situation began to change after Indira Gandhi won the Chikkamagaluru by-election in November 1978.

Sonia Gandhi has also shared an emotional account of Sanjay Gandhi's death in an aircraft crash on June 23, 1980. She writes that she, Rajiv and their children had travelled to Italy during the summer holidays. Rahul and Priyanka were staying with Sonia's parents in Orbassano while she and Rajiv were visiting Florence. On the day of the accident, Sonia's mother received a phone call from Delhi but could not understand the caller. She handed the phone to ten-year-old Rahul, who was told by Indira Gandhi's personal secretary, R.K. Dhawan, that Sanjay had died in an aircraft crash. Unable to believe the news, Rahul reportedly broke down in tears and repeatedly said in Italian that his uncle had died. Sonia recalls that Rajiv was also devastated and that it was difficult to console both of them. She further writes that Rajiv had earlier warned Sanjay against flying without adequate basic training. Sanjay's death left his wife, Maneka Gandhi, widowed at the age of 23, while their son Varun was just three months old. Sonia describes the tragedy as an irreparable loss for the family.