Wonder What’s The Story Behind the Cover Photo of Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir? Journo Rajdeep Sardesai Reveals It Was Clicked By None Other Than Her Husband Rajiv Gandhi

FORMER CONGRESS PRESIDENT and senior leader Sonia Gandhi has recently unveiled her memoir, “Belonging: A Journey of Love.” The book is scheduled to be published later this year in November 2026, and is posited as a “revelatory” book that will tell a “riveting personal and political” story about Sonia Gandhi’s life from Italy to India.

The memoir is touted as a rare glimpse into the world of a political figure whose life has been encased in much ambiguity, despite being a relative of the Nehru-Gandhi lineage. As the news of the memoir gained traction, it has generated much buzz amidst people itching to learn more about Sonia Gandhi’s life. Another point of discussion is the cover photo of the memoir — a black-and-white photo of a young-looking Sonia gazing calmly at the camera with one hand cradling her face. Wonder who took that photo? It was none other than Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi’s late husband and India’s former Prime Minister.

See also: A.G. Perarivalan, Convict in Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, Becomes Lawyer; Netizens Ask: ‘How Much Democracy Is Too Much Democracy?

Sonia Gandhi Memoir: Rajiv Gandhi Took the Photo on ‘Belonging’ Cover 

During a latest segment of the political discussion show Netanagari by news outlet The Lallantop, journalist Kuldeep Mishra was engaged in a conversation about Sonia Gandhi’s upcoming memoir and what can be expected of it. During the conversation, the topic of the memoir’s cover page — a grayscale photograph of a young Sonia Gandhi — came up. Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, consulting editor at India Today TV who conducted an exclusive interview with Sonia back in 2016, revealed that it was none other than her late husband Rajiv Gandhi who clicked the photograph.

Drawing a parallel with his own romantic life and adopting a jesting tone, Rajdeep revealed that Rajiv Gandhi was an avid enthusiast of photography and took pleasure in taking photos of Sonia, with whom he fell in love with “at first sight.” Rajiv and Sonia first saw each other at an Italian Mediterranean restaurant in Cambridge, England, and immediately fell in love. Their ensuing three-year long courtship led to the couple getting married in 1968. Sonia, being the object of her husband’s affection, thus became the muse of many of the photographs taken by Rajiv Gandhi.

Giving further details about Sonia Gandhi’s upcoming memoir, Rajdeep remarked that a very close friend of Sonia, whom he refused to name for confidentiality reasons, helped the former Congress president in penning the memoir. Additionally, Sonia received a great deal of assistance from her daughter, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

If readers are expecting an explosive, sensational political tell-all, then they're going to be disappointed, Rajdeep implicated. The India Today journalist stated he was informed that the memoir is solely going to focus on the love story between Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi, and her journey of coming to India from Italy. Rajdeep said that this is because Sonia does not wish to be encased in any political controversies or such.

See also: The Bofors Scandal: How V. P. Singh’s Resignation Shattered Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s ‘Mr Clean’ Image

Rajiv Gandhi’s Love For Photography

India’s former prime minister held a penchant for photography. Besides his role as a public servant, Rajiv Gandhi held great interest in both photography and technology and captured personal, candid moments, and landscapes through his own lens long before and during his time in public life. Even though it was more of a hobby, Rajiv Gandhi did exemplify commendable photography skills during his years. His creative endeavors were compiled into a 208-page book by Sonia Gandhi in 1992, titled Rajiv’s World: Photographs by Rajiv Gandhi. 

About Sonia Gandhi's Memoir ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’

On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, American publishing house Alfred A Knopf announced that Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, “Belonging: A Journey of Love,” will be published on November 10, 2026. The book will explore her marriage into the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, the assassinations of her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi and husband Rajiv Gandhi, her entry into politics and her years helming the Congress Party. Sonia stated that the memoir is an attempt to give a glimpse into her life and into India's most prominent political families.

In a press statement issued through Knopf shared by news agency Associated Press (AP), Sonia stated: “Much has been written about my family, but few narratives were able to reach into the truth of their motivations, their actions and even their very human failings. In many ways, this book is a homage to their humanness. My story also offers readers a unique perspective of the social and political changes I witnessed for six decades in the beautiful country of my belonging.”

The memoir chronicles her journey as a young inductee into the Nehru-Gandhi political lineage, and how her life was suddenly tossed into the public attention after the assassinations of her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi and husband Rajiv Gandhi. 

(Edited by Agniva Ray)

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