Sonia Gandhi Joins X, First Post Recalls Meeting Rajiv in Cambridge

Sonia Gandhi, one of Indian politics' most private figures, has finally joined X. The former Congress president made her debut on the platform on Saturday, October 24, with a personal post about how she first met Rajiv Gandhi at a small Greek restaurant in Cambridge. The post also announced her memoir, Belonging, A Journey of Love, which will be released on November 10.

What her first post said

In her opening message, Sonia Gandhi wrote that her "journey of love" began in a small Greek restaurant in Cambridge. She said she and Rajiv had created a world filled with love, laughter and memories, and that she would share that world with readers on November 10.

The post came with a short video, nearly two minutes long, in which she recalls the first time she saw Rajiv. A common friend introduced them at the restaurant while both were in Cambridge in the 1960s. Speaking warmly, she describes him as gentle and, with a smile, as very good-looking. The video quickly spread across social media, with many users calling it a rare glimpse into the private side of a leader known for keeping her personal life away from the public eye.

Instagram first, now X

The X debut came only days after she joined Instagram. For a politician who has rarely given interviews and has almost never spoken publicly about her personal life, the move onto two major platforms within a week is a notable change. It is clearly linked to the launch of the memoir, but it also gives her a direct channel to supporters at a time when the Congress is stepping up its street campaign in Delhi.

Key facts at a glance

The Cambridge story

The story of how Sonia Maino, a young Italian student, met Rajiv Gandhi in Cambridge has been told many times by biographers and family friends, but rarely by Sonia Gandhi herself. Rajiv was studying engineering there, and the two married in 1968. Rajiv went on to become Prime Minister in 1984 after the assassination of his mother, Indira Gandhi, and was himself assassinated in 1991. Sonia Gandhi stayed away from politics for several years before taking over the Congress in 1998, and she went on to become the party's longest-serving president.

The memoir's title, Belonging, suggests the book will also deal with her journey from Italy to India and the country she made her home, a subject her political rivals have often raised over the years.

How social media reacted

The video was widely shared within hours of being posted, with Congress workers and many ordinary users reacting to the candid way she spoke about Rajiv. For a leader usually seen only at formal political events and in Parliament, the informal, personal tone stood out. It also marks a shift for the Gandhi family's online presence, since Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have been active on social media for years while their mother stayed away.

What it means politically

Sonia Gandhi has stepped back from day-to-day party work in recent years and now sits in the Rajya Sabha. Her son Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are the family's main public faces. Her social media arrival will add a strong, familiar voice to the Congress's online presence. Party workers are already sharing the video widely, and political watchers will be keen to see whether she uses the platform only for personal reflections or also weighs in on current political issues.

What happens next

All eyes will now be on the November 10 release of Belonging, which is expected to offer her own account of life with Rajiv, the family's tragedies and her years at the head of the Congress. More glimpses from the book are likely to be shared on her social media accounts in the run-up to the launch.

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