Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi was born on December 9, 1946, in Lusiana, Veneto region, Italy, to an Italian building contractor. Raised Roman Catholic, she attended a language school in Cambridge, England, where she met Rajiv Gandhi, who was studying at the University of Cambridge. They married in 1968, and Sonia moved to India, where she lived with her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, then the Prime Minister of India. Initially, Sonia Gandhi eschewed politics, with Rajiv working as a commercial airline pilot and Sonia focusing on art restoration and preserving India’s artistic heritage. Her involvement in Indian public life began after the assassination of her mother-in-law in 1984, followed by her husband’s ascension to prime minister. She campaigned for Rajiv, accompanying him on state visits and acting as his official hostess, but maintained a background role as he served as prime minister from 1984 to 1989.

Following Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in 1991, Sonia Gandhi initially declined offers to lead the Congress Party. However, in 1997, after years of public pressure and the party’s declining fortunes, she agreed to join politics. She became president of the Indian National Congress in 1998, a position she held until 2017 and again as interim president from 2019 to 2022. Under her leadership, the Congress Party achieved significant electoral success, notably winning the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Despite being widely expected to become prime minister, she renounced the position due to political controversy surrounding her foreign birth, instead nominating Manmohan Singh for the post. As chairperson of the National Advisory Council and the United Progressive Alliance, she influenced policy-making, contributing to the implementation of significant welfare and rights-based legislation, including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Right to Information Act.

Throughout her extensive political career, Sonia Gandhi has been a Member of Parliament for various constituencies, including Amethi and Rae Bareli. She played a crucial role in forming and leading the United Progressive Alliance, which was re-elected in 2009. Her tenure saw her become the longest-serving Congress President, a testament to her enduring influence in Indian politics. Despite facing health challenges and stepping back from active campaigning at times, she continued to guide the party. In 2024, she was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, marking a new phase in her parliamentary service. Her impact on India’s political landscape has been widely recognized, with Forbes magazine consistently listing her among the world’s most powerful women.