Sonia Gandhi by Singh Rani

Rani Singh’s biography, Sonia Gandhi: An Extraordinary Life, An Indian Destiny looks into the struggles and events that surrounded Sonia Gandhi and her family. This book narrates the incidents beginning with the blossoming love between Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi, and moves on to her own entry into Indian politics.

Summary Of The Book

Sonia Maino was born in a small Italian village. Her extraordinary journey that led her to become Sonia Gandhi is narrated in Rani Singh’s Sonia Gandhi: An Extraordinary Life, An Indian Destiny.

This book begins with the tale of the love that blossomed between Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi when she met him in a restaurant in Cambridge, while they were both pursuing their studies in England. Far from being a smooth romance, they had to endure separation and opposition from their respective families. However, Sonia finally married Rajiv and moved to New Delhi at a time when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India.

The first part of this book describes the peaceful and almost idyllic life that Sonia led with her husband and children. However, as the book progresses into the second half, the political dynasty comes crashing down. With the death of Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash, Rajiv is compelled to take his place as the next Prime Minister.

Tragically, Indira Gandhi is assassinated by her bodyguard and Rajiv Gandhi, at the age of 40, becomes the youngest Prime Minister in the history of Indian politics. However, things do not meet any resolution and Sonia’s life is thrown into further disarray when Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated.

Far from escaping from such travesties, Sonia Gandhi enters the realm of politics and establishes the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in memory of his legacy. All her endeavors from then on have been to improve the conditions of the country, from education to military and poverty.

In Sonia Gandhi: An Extraordinary Life, An Indian Destiny, the author stresses on Sonia’s political prowess and her ability to handle the most adverse situations, which has turned her into a political icon for the younger Indian generations.

About Rani Singh

Rani Singh is a journalist and author. She’s based in London.

Singh is best known for Harry Smith: The Avant-Garde in the American Vernacular and Sonia Gandhi: An Extraordinary Life, An Indian Destiny.

She has worked for BBC radio and television as a journalist for more than 15 years. Her style of journalism has always been investigative.

Singh has worked for The Huffington Post, Lloyd’s List, and The Spectator.

She is also the ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, which helps underprivileged people.