Sonia Gandhi predicts 'tamasha' over memoir 'Belonging', out November 10
Synopsis
Sonia Gandhi — who spent decades deflecting the spotlight — has turned the lens on herself. Her memoir 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', out 10 November, promises insider disclosures including her opposition to Rajiv Gandhi becoming Prime Minister. She's already warning of a political 'tamasha', and given her three decades at the heart of Indian power, she may be underselling it.
Key Takeaways
Sonia Gandhi predicted political 'tamasha' in an X post on 27 October 2026 ahead of her memoir's release.
Memoir 'Belonging: A Journey of Love' launches worldwide on 10 November 2026 ; pre-orders are open.
The book reveals she was 'totally against' Rajiv Gandhi becoming Prime Minister .
Published globally by Alfred A.
Knopf ; HarperCollins India handles the domestic release.
Gandhi made her Instagram debut on 22 October and now has over 10,700 followers .
Earlier reports of Penguin India refusing to publish the memoir were refuted by the publishing house.
Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, predicted a political storm around the release of her memoir 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', set to launch worldwide on 10 November 2026. In a post on X, Gandhi wrote: 'There's bound to be some tamasha when this book comes out. After all, others have spent decades telling my 'story', now it's my turn.'
What the memoir covers
The book is described by publisher HarperCollins India as 'a dramatic and deeply personal story of love, identity, duty and belonging' that offers 'a rare insider's view of India's journey.' A short video accompanying Gandhi's X post showed her explaining why she chose to share her account — 'after a lifetime of being written about.' The clip also revealed that when her late husband Rajiv Gandhi was asked to become Prime Minister, she was 'totally against' it — a disclosure that is likely to draw significant attention.
Publication details and global launch
The memoir is being published globally by Alfred A. Knopf, with HarperCollins India handling the domestic release. In a statement, HarperCollins India called it 'one of the most anticipated political memoirs of our time.' Pre-orders have already been opened ahead of the 10 November launch. Notably, reports had earlier surfaced that Penguin India had refused to publish the book over alleged disagreements on editorial changes — a claim the publishing house subsequently refuted.
Sonia Gandhi's social media debut
The X post marks part of a broader, carefully managed digital debut by Gandhi, who had no social media presence until recently. On 22 October, she joined Instagram, posting: 'Hello everyone, I'm truly grateful to share this moment with you all: The first look of 'Belonging: A Journey of Love'. It is a story of love, duty, loss, and finding a place to belong.' As of the latest count, her Instagram account has crossed 10,700 followers. She currently follows her children — Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra — as well as the Indian National Congress handle. A video shared on Instagram showed her receiving the first copies of the book and sharing sweets with Priyanka, with the two also seen embracing.
Political significance
For a figure who has wielded extraordinary influence in Indian politics for three decades while famously guarding her private life, the decision to publish a memoir — in her own words — represents a significant shift. Gandhi's tenure as Congress president, her role in steering the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) governments, and the controversies that have surrounded her family make this one of the most politically consequential books ahead of its release. The 'tamasha' she anticipates will likely begin well before the book hits shelves.
Point of View
Not to politics — is itself a political act. By framing the book as a corrective to decades of others telling her story, she is pre-empting critics while building anticipation. The disclosure about opposing Rajiv Gandhi's prime ministership is a carefully chosen opener: personal enough to humanise, consequential enough to guarantee headlines. The real question is how deeply the memoir goes into the UPA years, coalition bargaining, and the party's subsequent electoral collapse — the periods where accountability questions remain sharpest.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sonia Gandhi's memoir 'Belonging: A Journey of Love' about?
It is a personal memoir by Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, described as a story of love, identity, duty, and belonging, offering a rare insider's view of India's political journey. The book is set for worldwide release on 10 November 2026 and includes disclosures such as her opposition to Rajiv Gandhi becoming Prime Minister.
When does Sonia Gandhi's book 'Belonging' release in India?
'Belonging: A Journey of Love' releases in India on 10 November 2026, published by HarperCollins India. Pre-orders are already open. The global edition is being published by Alfred A. Knopf.
Why did Sonia Gandhi say there will be 'tamasha' over her book?
In an X post on 27 October 2026, Sonia Gandhi said others had spent decades narrating her story and the memoir was her chance to tell it herself, adding 'there's bound to be some tamasha.' The remark is widely seen as an anticipation of political reactions to the book's disclosures.
When did Sonia Gandhi join social media?
Sonia Gandhi made her social media debut on Instagram on 22 October 2026, sharing the first look of her memoir. She subsequently posted on X to announce the book's release, marking her first appearance on that platform as well. Her Instagram account had crossed 10,700 followers as of 27 October.
Was there a dispute over the publication of Sonia Gandhi's memoir?
Earlier reports suggested that Penguin India had declined to publish the memoir due to alleged disagreements over editorial changes. However, Penguin India subsequently refuted those reports. The book is ultimately being published in India by HarperCollins India.
