After becoming a Gandhi, Sonia began to mould herself in Indian tradition and culture without any delay or hitch. In little time an Italian born girl transformed into an Indian traditional bahu (daughter-in-law). To be a daugher-in-law of a traditional Indian family she Indianised her wear and style whereas many upper class Indians were giving up native ways in preference to western life style. Her name sounded Indian and there was something deeply Indian she was born with.
Like a traditional bahu Sonia always kept pallu (Saree end of upperside) over head in the presence of Indiraji. Besides saree she liked to wear salwar and kameez. Indiraji used to keep fast once a week. Sonia took to her example and started fasting, earlier their fasting was on different week days. But later they fell in step and both fasted on Mangalwars (Tuesdays). It was clear that Sonia was greatly under the influence of Indiraji. The habits of Indiraji, her speaking, mannerisms, dressing, conduct and ways were reflecting in Sonia. About this factor of Indiraji’s stamp on Sonia Gandhi, the latter herself admitted in a published work in these words:
“In my own native country, Italy the creature called ‘mother-in-law’ has no good image. There are jokes and sayings on mother-in-law woes and ways of getting rid of her in a matter of fact way. So, the girls of that place bear a strange kind of fear for mother-in-law creature. That is why, in this context when I went to meet Rajiv’s mother in London (for the first time), I went to her room with great trepidition. I was so scared about meeting my would be mother-in-law that Rajiv almost dragged me into the room. But after meeting her I got very positive impression of her.
While going into that room with tearful eyes I was praying that Rajiv may not leave me alone there for her to dominate me, put me through cruel grilling to reject me in the end but nothing like that happened.
She treated me with very politeness. I was fed sweets and even helped me mend my skirt edge that had got unstitched caught in a chair of that room. She asked me about my studies and put me at ease.
Next I met Indiraji three years later when she was about to become my mother-in-law. As my marriage was to take place in India, she made all the arrangements with her own hands. During those days I badly needed a moral support because suddenly I was required to deal with new people, new ways, new environment, interviews, photographers etc. She used to tell me who’s what, what I must do on special occasions and what various festivals signified etc.
Whenever I got nervous she would tell me anecdotes of various marriages and even funny incidents of her own marriage which would ease and encourage me a lot.”
While reminiscing about her post marriage period revealing Indiraji’s affection and fondness for her Sonia Gandhi confided her state of mind when her family members left for Italy—”After marriage when my mother went to Italy leaving me back I used to be very sullen. Mummy (Indiraji) would console me and say if I were to make life happy I must help her. She would steal time from her busy schedule to ring me up to cheer me. Gradually due to these humanly touches, encouragements, praise and admonishing whenever needed, I started to depend on her for the advices and suggestions.
Whenever I needed her help I would speak to her without hesitation and she responded with motherly affection. In the earlier days she never forced anything on me, be it about eating or dressing or meeting other people.
Often she would taste the food cooked by me and praise it. Whenever some family decision was taken or some change was intended she would ask for my opinion. She would always try to make me feel a member of the family.
During various festivals Mummy would tell me about the significance of traditions of Indian life. At every festival I would get a new saree for wearing. We used to celebrate X-mas like other festivals and she would take part in it enthusiastically.”
Infact, Indiraji treated Sonia like her daughter instead of in-law. Similar were the thoughts of Sonia. She treated Indiraji more like her own Mummy instead of mother-in-law. Both had the reciprocal sentiments of mother-daughter. About Sonia Indiraji often used to say, ‘I always felt a dire need of a daughter because I had two sons but no daughter. When Sonia came in as the wife of Rajiv I considered her as my daughter and a void of my life was filled up.’
Italian born Sonia after coming to India became the most favourite one of Indiraji, the Prime Minister of India. She cared for the sentiments and the sensibilities of her Mummy Indiraji. Sonia knew when she would need what and kept it ready in anticipation. Work load on Indiraji was heavy and hectic which often caused her severe headaches. Sonia found a simple and effective answer to that in an Italian home remedy. It worked and a grateful Indiraji became admirer of Sonia’s home remedies.
According to Sonia Gandhi the headaches of Indiraji didn’t allow her to sleep at nights which worried the former. That is when she remembered how they used to treat headaches back home. It was a herb called chamomile that was boiled in water, cold water was added and then pieces soaked in that water applied to forehead. It quickly relieved headache. Sonia got the herb plant sent for from her Italian home and tried it on Indiraji. It provided quick relief to Indiraji to her delight. Thus, sharing each other’s pain, problems and joys Indiraji and Sonia bonded together more deeply with each incident. Besides language of love Sonia Gandhi knows several other languages. She is fluent in Italian, French, Spanish and English. After her marriage she learnt Hindi. First, she learnt it from a tutor and then completed a course run by a Hindi Institution devised specially for foreigners.
There was a rule in Gandhi household from the very time of Indiraji that at dining table no member shall leave food in thali (platter) to waste. Another rule was, at the table everyone shall speak in Hindi only, leaving all other times for English or whatever language.
Eat one must everyday. Due to that rule Sonia too had to converse in Hindi everyday at dining table as long as eating ritual continued. That helped Sonia improve her Hindi.
Sonia Gandhi did prove herself to be an ideal bahu (daughter-in-law) but she had yet to show her motherhood qualities. In 1970, Sonia gave birth to a
son who was named ‘Rahul Gandhi’. Two years later a girl arrived to be christened ‘Priyanka Gandhi’. The two children brought with them loads of joy for Rajiv, Sonia and Indira Gandhi. Their household echoed with squeals of childish delights.
Meanwhile, the politics of the country had become very complex. In 1971 Bangladesh was born and Pakistan defeated in a war that catapulted Indira Gandhi on the world stage as an ‘Iron lady’. In some way Sonia was always under the impact of naturally overwhelming personality of Indira Gandhi. She had a dormant wish to emulate Indiraji and was learning fast. As Indiraji proved ideal mother of Rajiv and Sanjay Gandhi, similarly Sonia was trying to be an ideal mother to Rahul and Priyanka. Sonia was moulding herself in the image of Indiraji.
Apolitical nature
Inspite of being the elder daughter-in-law of the Prime Minister of India and living in a political hub Sonia was an apolitical character. Rajiv respected her sentiments. That is why during that period Rajiv and Sonia never appeared on the political stage of assemblages although their children did sometimes appear with Indiraji on such occasions. Indiraji loved Rahul and Priyanka.
Sonia was totally dedicated to her family. Rajiv, Indiraji and her two children were her world. Similarly she was attached to Sanjay to who she cared like Indiraji. That relationship continued even after the marriage of Sanjay to Maneka Gandhi. The mindset and habits of Maneka were different from Sonia. But Sonia never made it an apple of discord and remained content with carrying out her responsibilities.
Indira Gandhi won 1972 parliamentary elections and formed her government but she faced allegations of several irregularities. Her election rival in Raebareli Rajnarain had filed a case against her.
On June 12, 1975 Allahabad High Court gave verdict against Indira Gandhi and set aside her Lok Sabha membership. The opposition parties ganged up to raise the crescendo of the demand of her resignation. She appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court judgement. The Supreme Court ruled that Indira Gandhi could continue as PM but won’t vote in the house.
The country was going through a period of political instability and the society was getting torn asunder by anti-Indira agitation being whipped up by opposing forces. To end anarchy and black marketeering a state of ‘Emergency’ was declared in the country. All the opposition leaders were sent to jail. The younger brother of Rajiv, Sanjay Gandhi was playing active role in the emergency politics. A ’20 Point’ programme was launched for the national reconstruction. Sanjay Gandhi added his own ‘5 Point’ programme on behalf of Youth Congress. There were some positive aspects of the Emergency but the negative impact far outweighed them. The opposition was united against Indira Gandhi with a sole mission of depriving her of the power.
In 1977 parliamentary elections the Congress party was mauled by the united opposition under the banner of ‘Janata Party’. The rag-tag combination formed government under Morarji Desai.
Indira Gandhi was made to vacate 1, Safdarjang Road residence of the Prime Minister. She moved to 12, Willingdon Crescent bungalow. Janata Party government tried to lay siege around her. It was a difficult time for Indira Gandhi and her family. Sonia Gandhi stood by Indiraji and provided moral support but still remaining aloof from politics.
Then, infighting broke out between different groups of Janata Party. Morarji Desai resigned. Chaudhary Charan Singh took his place with Congress support ironically. As expected Charan Singh government fell as soon as the support was withdrawn.
In ensuing 1980 Parliamentary elections Indira Gandhi returned to power with massive mandate. She had fought from Raebarely (U.P.) and Medak (AP) and won from both the seats.
But her happiness was eclipsed when on June 23, 1980 her younger active politician son, Sanjay Gandhi died in an aeroplane accident in New Delhi. On the political firmanent of India he had risen like a bright meteor and vanished out of existence. He had become a right hand man of Indiraji.
With Sanjay gone Indira Gandhi had become a lonely political figure with no one to turn to. Rajiv Gandhi understood the problem of his mother. So far he had stayed away from politics. He had no interest in politics and Sonia wanted him to be like that. But Rajiv could not see his mother suffer the pain and loneliness in political arena. He also knew his family’s duty and responsibility towards the country. With that idea he decided to give more time to his mother. In the mornings and evenings after doing his piloting duties he began to assist his mother in political matters.
Rajiv still had no wish to join politics full time. His idea was to contribute some time to the task of upliftment of the country and its holistic development as a normal citizen.
After the death of Sanjay Gandhi there was a void in Congress youth affairs. Indiraji did not press upon Rajiv to join politics whole time but the Congress workers and leaders demanded that Rajiv become full time politician to fill the void. Rajiv continued to serve as a pilot regardless.
To the Congressmen Indiraji told, “My son would himself decide about joining politics or not. Who am I to force him into it?”
So far Sonia had shunned politics while living with a political family and had begn to realise its problems and complexities. She knew that her Rajiv was a simple, straight forward and a honest person, not made for political deceits, manipulations and thuggery. He was alien to dirty games and hence misfit for politics. That is why Sonia was protesting against Rajiv’s joining politics. She even once threatened Rajiv that she would return to Italy with their children if he joined politics.
The stand of Sonia was very important for Rajiv in many ways. She had spared no effort in coming to India, leaving her own country, getting married to him and moulding herself into Indian way of life without any conditions. It was a great sacrifice and Rajiv could not repay by hurting her sentiments. It would have been gross injustice. Rajiv used patience. He did not jump into politics, gradually reasoned with Sonia and took her into confidence.
On the other hand Sonia was not stone-hearted or unreasonably adamant. She too understood the pain and the problem of Indiraji. At last, Sonia agreed to take the risk of letting Rajiv join the politics for the sake of the need of Indiraji and national interest. It was not easy for her. She had to brace herself for it.
In a book Sonia Gandhi expressed her dilemma in following words:
‘To join politics or not was the question that was tearing Rajiv apart. On the one side was his mother who was broken due to the death of her younger son and very lonely. I knew well that she badly needed the assistance of Rajiv in politics.
For me Indiraji was my virtual mother and I could not bear to see her in pain. Inspite of knowing all this I was against Rajiv joining politics because political system had become so selfish that my mind refused to trust it. I feared that Rajiv would be made a scapegoat. The politics shall crush him to destruction and that would be my ruin. That was why I protested for one full year.
The kind of love I and Rajiv shared was such that I could make no compromise on it. I could not tolerate to see my Rajiv being divided for sharing. I wanted monopoly over Rajiv. But even my protest had a limit. Indiraji needed Rajiv. So he had to obey her command. It was such helplessness that I had to yield to it.’
Rajiv Gandhi was still in the service of Indian Airlines. He had not yet resigned. Even after the assent of Sonia to his joining politics an opportune movement was being awaited for. In December, 1980 Rajiv went to Hyderabad for a training course to fly Boeing planes. It was his last aeronautic training.
At last after lot of debate and discussion Rajiv resigned from Indian Airlines on May 5, 1981. On May 11, he became primary member of the Congress party and formally stepped into politics. Byelection of Amethi parliamentary seat, fallen vacant due to the death of Sanjay Gandhi, was announced by Election Commission in May to be held in the month of June. In the meeting of the Congress Working Committee Vasant Dada Patil proposed the name of Rajiv Gandhi as the Congress candidate for the by-election and it was unanimously accepted. In the second week of May, Rajiv, Indiraji and some friends went to Sultanpur and filed the nomination papers for Amethi byelection. Amethi was a backward area of Sultanpur district in U.P. Rajiv Gandhi’s entry into active politics representing such an area was a strange thing.
Rajiv returned to Delhi after filling nomination papers to be in Amethi the very next day with the publicity material and bands of Congress workers to launch election campaign. For one full month he campaigned relentlessly. He was not accustomed to making political speeches. He just put forward his true feelings in simple words before the electorate which impressed the simple folk.
Rajiv gave more importance to personal contacts with people than delivering speeches. It also made a very positive impact. This new kind of approach gave the impression to the people that he was worthy to be their representative. Rajiv spoke even before small crowds of 25-30 people in villages. Sonia faithfully stood by Rajiv Gandhi in election campaign all through. She met village women and children to say encouraging words. The people accepted her as their own and treated her with great respect affectionately. This was the occasion when Sonia came close to the heart of India and realised how much love the common folk had for her. She truly started to grow roots in the soil and she had never imagined it would lead to her becoming a political banyan tree of India one day. But then it was in future.
In the scorching heat of June, Rajiv and Sonia went from village to village campaigning for 15-18 hours a day together meeting folks, experiencing their life, eating coarse food, sitting under trees, on the ground, drinking tea sometimes from clay pots and hearing the problems of the grassroot folk. The people accepted them as one of them. Amethi parliamentary constituency had five assembly seats with a total of 770 voting booths. Rajiv toured all those booth areas and went to the remotest hamlets never visited by any candidate before. He did not use the deceptively verbose language of politicians. He spoke from heart in simple words a grassroot person could understand. It was not a game plan. Infact, Rajiv was himself a simple person and his language was honesty.
His typical addresses used to be like the following :
“Mothers, sisters, brothers and friends, I am not fighting this election for myself but for you. It is you who is fighting it. My victory would be your victory and my defeat your defeat. You have to win and you shall win. Jai Hind.”
“I have not come to seek your votes but to know your problems and difficulties. I will see how much I can help you. I have come from Delhi but I am one amongst you and I am your brother. Amethi now is mine as much as it is yours. Thank you.”
As the campaign progressed Rajiv became more expressive politically as the following address reveals:
“Brothers! Remember that the nation would move forward powered by the toil of the masses. You will have to work hard. That only will solve the problems. To get the water to the fields is the duty of the government but the tilling and irrigating the fields is your part of the job. You will have to do it. If you come forward the government won’t be lagging behind. The promises made to you by the government, the Congress will be kept. The words given to you by my late brother shall be honoured. Thank you.”
Sometimes his speech would be in the form of a normal conversation as under :
‘Brothers and sisters! I can’t forget your affection. I got delayed in coming to you. Hope you will forgive me. In the last village your brothers and sisters stopped me. I could not disappoint them. Talking to them was also necessary. After meeting you, I have further meetings with the people scheduled. I must apologise to them as well. Your affection pardoned me for my getting late. That is the victory of my love for you.”
In the course of time he started to show that he was getting the hang of the politics as the following speech reveals :
“You had given the charge of the governance of the country to some other people. You asked them to rule for five years but they quit only after two and a half years. They could not last. They admitted governance was beyond their capacity. Rightly you gave chance to Congress again. I am member of the same Congress party and have come here to become your representative. Jai Hind! The women folk are shying away. They must also raise their voice. Say aloud—Jai Hind!”
In this electoral battle, Sonia Gandhi dressed in Khadi saree toured the villages of Amethi constituency alongside Rajiv. She met women folk of the grassroot level and got introduced to real India. The folk welcomed the foreigner bahu with great affection. She realised that the people of various regions, countries, religions, cultures and classes were the same at the basic level.
The polling took place on June 14, 1981 and votes were counted on the 16th. Rajiv Gandhi romped home bagging massive 2,58,884 votes.
Now Rajiv Gandhi was a member of parliament. He became a very busy politician devoting most of his time to the public relation activities. Sonia Gandhi did not complain. The political stature of Rajiv was ever on the rise but Sonia did not grow any ego or clamoured for clout or importance. She remained apolitical but a true well wisher of her husband and conscious of his success.
