A chance meeting in Cambridge became the beginning of a lifelong partnership. Sonia Gandhi has revisited her first encounter with Rajiv Gandhi in a video shared ahead of the November 10 release of her memoir.
BY PC Bureau
October 24: Before politics brought Sonia Gandhi into the public spotlight, a chance encounter in Cambridge set the course of her personal life. The Congress leader has now revisited that moment in a video marking her debut on X, sharing memories of how she met former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the connection that grew between them.
The post comes ahead of the November 10 release of her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, which promises a more personal account of a life that has long been intertwined with India’s political history.
“In a small Greek restaurant in Cambridge my journey of love began,” Sonia Gandhi wrote in her first post on the platform.
“Rajiv and I created a world filled with love, laughter and memories. On 10th November, I share that world with you,” she added.
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A search for familiar food led to Rajiv
In the video, Sonia Gandhi leafs through old photographs and recalls her student days in England, when finding food that reminded her of home was not easy.
“Food in England was awful in those days. You didn’t have so many restaurants, you know, like you have today,” she said.
Her search for more familiar cuisine took her to a Greek restaurant in Cambridge, a popular meeting place for European and Indian students. It was there that she first encountered Rajiv Gandhi.
“It was a Greek restaurant where many students, especially European students, but also Indian students, used to go for their meals. And that is then where I met Rajiv in that very restaurant,” she recalled.
A new chapter, a new way of sharing stories. ❤️
The first look of Belonging: A Journey of Love, a story that explores love, duty, loss and the search for a place to call home.
The book will be out on Nov 10th.
https://t.co/eFlAL2n0Lr
— Sonia Gandhi💎 (@SoniaGandhi_FC) October 22, 2026
‘Someone I would really love to be with’
Sonia Gandhi said she felt an immediate connection with Rajiv when they met, adding that the feeling was mutual.
“When I first met him, I felt almost immediately that, you know, it was someone I would really love to be with. And of course, I learned that it was the same for him,” she said.
The recollection offers a glimpse into the beginnings of a relationship that unfolded long before Rajiv Gandhi became prime minister and Sonia Gandhi emerged as one of the most prominent figures in Indian politics.
Through Belonging: A Journey of Love, Sonia Gandhi is set to share more of the memories behind their life together, inviting readers to look beyond the political legacy and encounter the personal story that preceded it.
