Cambridge: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has revisited the beginnings of her love story with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, recalling their first meeting at a small Greek restaurant in Cambridge, England, and the instant connection that eventually led to their marriage.

The personal memories feature in a preview of her upcoming memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, which is scheduled to be released on November 10, 2026. The book promises to offer readers a glimpse into the relationship that shaped much of Sonia Gandhi’s personal life, long before she became one of the most prominent figures in Indian politics.

Sharing the preview on social media platform X, Sonia reflected on the life she built with Rajiv, describing their relationship as one filled with affection, laughter and shared experiences.

“Rajiv and I created a world filled with love, laughter and memories. On 10th November, I share that world with you,” she wrote, accompanying the post with a video featuring her recollections and archival photographs.

A chance meeting at a Greek restaurant

In the video, Sonia recalls meeting Rajiv Gandhi at the Varsity Restaurant, a Greek eatery in Cambridge that was popular among students from India and other parts of Europe.

The meeting took place when both were young students. A mutual friend introduced them, setting in motion a relationship that would eventually lead to marriage in 1968.

Sonia remembers that she had initially been looking for places in England that served food closer to what she was accustomed to, particularly Italian cuisine. At the time, she found the available dining options limited compared with what people might expect today.

“Food in England was awful. In those days, you didn’t have so many restaurants,” she says in the preview.

The restaurant, however, became more than a place to find familiar food. It was also a meeting point for international students, offering opportunities to socialise, build friendships and experience life away from home.

For Sonia, the visit proved significant for an entirely different reason. Her first impression of Rajiv was one of immediate attraction, accompanied by a sense that he was someone with whom she could imagine sharing her life.

“When I first met him, I felt almost immediately that he was someone whom I would really love to be with. And of course, I learnt that it was the same for him,” she recalls.

Her account presents the meeting as the beginning of a relationship that developed naturally, shaped by shared interests and the experiences of student life.

Rajiv Gandhi’s gentleness made an impression

Beyond his appearance, Sonia says she was particularly struck by Rajiv’s gentle demeanour.

In the preview, she recalls him as someone whose gentleness was evident from the beginning, describing it as a quality that immediately caught her attention.

“He was a very gentle looking person. Of course, he was very good-looking, but that gentleness came through. So that was something that really touched me and struck me,” she says.

Her recollections offer a personal perspective on Rajiv Gandhi, who would later become one of India’s most recognisable political figures.

Before entering public life, Rajiv was known to have pursued interests outside politics, including aviation. His relationship with Sonia began during a period when both were young and building their lives, far removed from the political responsibilities and public scrutiny that would eventually define their future.

The memoir’s preview focuses on these early impressions, highlighting the personal qualities and emotions that Sonia remembers from the time they first met.

Rather than presenting their relationship through the lens of political history, the account returns to the experience of two young people getting to know each other.

From friendship to romance in Cambridge

Following their introduction, Sonia and Rajiv’s relationship developed through friendship and shared experiences.

Sonia recalls spending time with him at social gatherings, parties and sightseeing trips. These everyday moments formed an important part of their early relationship, allowing them to become closer while navigating student life in Cambridge.

She also remembers attending a Valentine’s Day party with other students, an episode that features in the recollections shared in the video.

The preview combines her narration with archival photographs, bringing together memories of their early years and offering a glimpse into their lives before Rajiv’s political career transformed their family’s public profile.

Their relationship eventually led to marriage in 1968. Sonia, who was born in Italy, subsequently made India her home and became part of the Nehru-Gandhi family, one of the country’s most influential political dynasties.

Over the following decades, the couple’s personal lives became closely intertwined with India’s political history.

Rajiv Gandhi’s political journey and tragic death

Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister of India in 1984 following the assassination of his mother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He held the office until 1989.

His tenure was marked by efforts to promote technological development and modernisation, alongside political challenges that shaped his government’s legacy.

However, his life was cut short on May 21, 1991, when he was assassinated during an election campaign in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.

His death was a defining moment in India’s political history and a profound personal loss for Sonia and their family.

In the years that followed, Sonia Gandhi emerged as a major leader of the Congress party. She eventually served as the party’s president for several years and played a significant role in national politics.

Despite her long public career, details of her personal relationship with Rajiv have largely been shared through occasional interviews, public appearances and recollections.

The forthcoming memoir is expected to provide a more intimate account of their life together, drawing attention to the experiences and memories that existed beyond the political spotlight.

Sonia Gandhi’s memoir to be released on November 10

Titled Belonging: A Journey of Love, the memoir is scheduled for release on November 10, 2026. The preview places her relationship with Rajiv at the centre of its narrative, presenting their meeting and early romance through Sonia’s own memories.

The book’s publication has also attracted attention following reports of earlier complications involving its publishing arrangements. HarperCollins is set to publish the memoir, according to reports.

Sonia recently joined Instagram, where she also shared information about the upcoming book, expanding her presence on social media ahead of its release.

The preview offers a glimpse of the themes that readers can expect from the memoir, including companionship, affection, shared experiences and the life she built with Rajiv Gandhi.

For Sonia, the story begins not in the corridors of power in New Delhi but in a small restaurant in Cambridge, where a chance introduction led to a relationship that would shape her personal journey.

As the release date approaches, Belonging: A Journey of Love is likely to draw interest from readers seeking a more personal understanding of the woman behind one of India’s most prominent political figures, as well as the relationship that remained central to her life.