Sonia Gandhi’s upcoming memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, offers a detailed account of the strained relationship between Maneka Gandhi and the Nehru-Gandhi family, recalling how an initially cordial family bond gradually deteriorated into domestic conflicts, political disagreements and an eventual separation.
In the 526-page book published by HarperCollins India, Sonia recounts Maneka’s entry into the Gandhi household after marrying Sanjay Gandhi. Describing her as a “pretty and vivacious girl”, Sonia recalls that Maneka married Sanjay within a year of their introduction in late 1973, when she was just 18 years old.
Sonia writes that she initially welcomed having a younger sister-in-law in the family, describing the experience as “refreshing”. However, she says differences gradually emerged, leading to frequent disagreements within the household.
Recalling her interactions with Maneka, Sonia writes that she often chose to remain silent to maintain peace but would respond sharply when she felt disagreements had crossed a limit.
She also describes increasingly heated arguments between Sanjay and Maneka, alleging that Maneka sometimes used abusive language even in the presence of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, leaving other family members uncomfortable.
According to Sonia, Maneka’s growing involvement in Sanjay’s political activities further complicated relationships within the family. She suggests that this influence also contributed to tensions between Sanjay and his elder brother, Rajiv Gandhi, who had shared a close relationship with him.
The differences reportedly intensified after the Congress suffered an electoral setback in 1978. Sonia recalls that Rajiv held Sanjay partly responsible for the defeat, citing his impulsive political decisions and programmes undertaken without sufficient consultation.
During one family confrontation, Rajiv reportedly told Sanjay, “I cannot forgive you, Sanjay, you have brought Ma to this pass.”
Sonia also recalls Indira Gandhi expressing displeasure over Sanjay’s tendency to take important decisions without informing her. She alleges that Maneka’s intervention during the discussion further escalated tensions.
The memoir makes several other allegations against Maneka, including making sarcastic comments about the family and allegedly sharing stories with journalists. Sonia particularly recalls reports suggesting that she and Rajiv intended to leave India following the family’s political setback, an allegation that reportedly upset both of them.
The relationship took a decisive turn after Sanjay Gandhi died in an aircraft crash on June 23, 1980. According to Sonia, Maneka’s mother was encouraging Sanjay’s political supporters within the Congress to secure a political role for his widow.
However, Indira Gandhi reportedly believed that Maneka, then 23, lacked the experience required for a leadership position and should concentrate on bringing up her infant son, Feroze Varun Gandhi.
Further tensions emerged over arrangements for Varun’s first birthday. Sonia writes that Indira later learnt that the celebration had taken place at the residence of Vasundhara Raje, daughter of the former royal family of Gwalior and a supporter of the RSS, rather than at the Gandhi residence.
Sonia also refers to Maneka’s association with the sale of her magazine, Surya, to an RSS member, portraying the development as a political affront to Indira Gandhi and the family’s ideological position.
The final confrontation reportedly occurred after Indira returned from an official visit to London and discovered that Maneka was preparing to move her belongings out of the family residence.