THE “BELONGING”: A PERSONAL JOURNEY, A NATIONAL STORY
The following is the opinion of N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Telangana Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies and former Indian Air Force fighter pilot on Sonia Gandhi’s (chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party) book “Belonging: A journey of Love”.
Reflecting on Sonia Gandhi’s Belonging and Enduring Dignity
Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s ” Belonging: A Journey of Love” – is more than a political memoir. It recounts a journey from Italy to India, shaped by love, loss, service, a deep sense of belonging to this country and lasting devotion to its people. I have always been a great admirer of Madam Gandhi. I first met Rajiv ji and Sonia ji while serving at Rashtrapati Bhavan as an Indian Air Force fighter pilot deputed to the office of the President of India.
As I entered public life, she placed her trust in me. She gave me the opportunity to serve as a minister and later as president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee. I have served six terms as MLA, represented our people in Parliament and held ministerial responsibilities in undivided Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. When I look back at my political journey, I do so with gratitude: I owe everything I have achieved in public life to her faith in me. That bond makes reading “Belonging” meaningful. The book traces Sonia Gandhi’s life from her childhood in Italy and her meeting with Rajiv Gandhi in Cambridge to her arrival in India and the making of a home here.
Its pages place the private story of a wife and mother alongside the history of a nation. The deaths of Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were not only defining public events; they were devastating losses within a family. The memoir brings that human dimension into view. I have watched Madam Gandhi withstand personal attacks that too often descended into unfairness and prejudice. Through every phase, she has remained an example of grace, dignity and decency. The restraint and composure with which she has met hostility say much about her character. In public life, where it is easy to answer insults with anger, she has consistently shown self-command and a profound sense of responsibility.
Her decision to enter politics after years of reluctance was an act of duty. As Congress president, she gave the party direction and renewed purpose through difficult years. Her leadership helped bring together a broad coalition, and her decision to decline the office of Prime Minister in 2004, while supporting Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister, remains an extraordinary moment of political judgment and personal conviction.
The title captures the book’s deepest theme. “Belonging” is not determined by birthplace alone; it grows through love, shared struggle and service. Sonia Gandhi made India her home, and devoted herself to its people and democratic life. Her memoir offers a rare opportunity to understand the woman behind the public role: a person shaped by affection, bereavement, courage and commitment. For me, this book is also a reminder of a debt of gratitude. Madam Gandhi’s confidence gave me opportunities that shaped my life in the Congress and in public service. I remain profoundly thankful.
“Belonging” is a moving account of personal endurance and public duty, and a tribute to a leader whose grace under pressure has earned the admiration of countless people, including me.
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