In New Memoir Belonging, Sonia Gandhi Recounts Rift with Maneka Gandhi, Describing Bitter Family Fallout Like a “Reality Show”

In her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, Sonia Gandhi offers a candid look into the internal dynamics of the Gandhi household, detailing the bitter personal and political rift with her sister-in-law, Maneka Gandhi. The former Congress president reveals that Indira Gandhi was deeply uneasy about Maneka’s growing influence on Sanjay Gandhi, recounting that the former Prime Minister once remarked to Principal Secretary P.N. Dhar: “Uske abhi se par nikalne lage hain (She has started growing wings already).”

Sonia writes that Maneka viewed Rajiv Gandhi and her as adversaries, accusing her of using contacts in the press to plant disparaging reports about them. The most hurtful of these narratives, according to Sonia, was the claim that she and Rajiv had planned to flee India following the Congress party’s defeat in the 1977 general election.

Key Revelations from the Memoir

• Early Hesitation Over Marriage: Sonia notes that Indira initially had reservations when Sanjay proposed marrying Maneka in 1973, citing their ten-year age difference and the fact that Maneka was still a minor at the time. Despite these doubts, the two married in September 1974, with Sanjay selecting an opal-and-ruby engagement ring from Indira’s jewellery box.
• Shifting Dynamics Under One Roof: While Sonia initially saw Maneka as vivacious and full of energy, friction developed over time. Sonia describes arguments between Sanjay and Maneka where profanities were used, which she notes shocked the family. She also states that attempts to maintain equal footing as daughters-in-law were interpreted by Maneka as slights.
• Post-1980 Ambitions: Following Sanjay’s fatal plane crash in June 1980, tensions escalated over Maneka’s political trajectory. Sonia notes that Indira was concerned about moves to build a political profile for the young widow, who had a three-month-old infant, Varun.
• The Breaking Point: Disagreements peaked in March 1981, when Maneka hosted Varun’s first birthday at the residence of Vasundhara Raje, whom Sonia identifies as a staunch RSS supporter and political adversary of Indira. The subsequent sale of Maneka’s publication, Surya, to an RSS-affiliated individual widened the gulf.
• Exit and Legal Disputes: Maneka’s departure from the Gandhi residence escalated into a media spectacle that Sonia compares to a modern-day “reality show.” The conflict extended to child access, leading to court petitions. Sonia recalls an episode where dropping off birthday presents for four-year-old Varun at his nursery school prompted newspaper claims by Maneka alleging an abduction attempt.

Timeline of the Political Split