Articles on the life and work of Sonia Gandhi, b. 1946, as a politician from India, and leader, Indian National Congress, since 1997.

Sonia Gandhi's story represents the greatest transformational journey made by any world leader in the last four decades. Circumstance and tragedy, rather than ambition, paved her path to power. Born into a traditional, middle-class Italian family, Sonia met and fell in love with Rajiv Gandhi, son of future Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, while studying English in Cambridge. Cruelly tested by the assassinations of her mother-in-law and of her husband, Sonia grew into a strong, authoritative but always private figure, now president of a coalition ruling over a billion people in the world's largest democracy. Through exclusive interviews with members of Sonia's party, political opponents and family friends, Rani Singh casts new light on Sonia. In the first mainstream biography of this inspirational figure, the author's compelling narrative retraces the path of the brave and beautiful Sonia Gandhi, examining what her life and legacy mean for India.

Sonia Gandhi: The Power Part I is a book I have pleasure in presenting to the curious reader/s and the critics I hope who respect the power in what I love to believe is a phenomenal career in politics. The reason for writing this book is purely as a source of inspiration to many women like myself who struggle to live a challenging life abroad. What acceptance means to people who work abroad is perhaps something I have struggled to express as when there is no acceptance of the ideals, they fail to flourish as they should do. I sincerely hope with globalization, people and values be widely accepted regardless of the religion, colour, creed, race, and nationality and there be no discrimination on such a basis or characteristic. It is but sad to see many ideals and values being crushed as they do not represent a particular nation, a particular religion, a particular race, a particular language, a particular gender, and the list of characteristics seems to never be protected. Imagining there be one whole world of peace where discrimination ceases is but a dream of possibility I wished a reader could imagine after reading this book. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, I strongly feel, should be accepted, accepted for her strong determination to work against odds to work for the larger good of the society. Now if this society means a region outside of where she was born, I feel she deserves in fact greater respect, and it is but appalling to see the contrary gaining importance. Dear reader/s and critics, I welcome you to embrace to respect the power of Mrs. Gandhi in enduring the sacrifices of her dear husband, late Rajiv Gandhi, and her dear mother-in-law, late Indira Gandhiji, and perhaps the power of determination and strength to work against odds with respect and consideration. I simply fail to understand why Mrs. Gandhi has been largely misunderstood. This book attempts to inspire a reader appreciate the power of sacrifice, patience, determination, and resilience in Mrs. Gandhi. This book also revives the strong principles of Mrs. Gandhi’s unity, tolerance, and freedom, which Mrs. Gandhi’s congress party stands for, which were perhaps forgotten in the 2014 elections.

1. In Transit 2. Those Were the Days 3. An Uneasy Transition 4. The Great Divide 5. Triumph and Decline 6. Turning Point 7. Lonely at the Top 8. Destiny and Doom 9. Charm vs Chasm 10. The Failed Messiah 11. Shotgun Marriage 12. A Dithering Withering Rao 13. Unity of Opposites 14. The Slide 15. Uncertain Future Sketches of Men at the Top Those Who Influenced Controversies Scandals Individual References Chronology Confession Bibliography Index

About the Book A CANDID ACCOUNT OF RAJIV GANDHI’S PRIME MINISTERIAL YEARS. On 21 May 1991, Wajahat Habibullah, then the commissioner of Kashmir (constituting the valley and the two districts of Ladakh), had returned home after inspecting a mysterious fire at Dalgate, Srinagar. Much to his dismay, there had been another fire, one that left him devastated: an RDX explosion in the south Indian town of Sriperumbudur had taken the life of India’s sixth prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi. My Years with Rajiv is an endearing account of a friendship that turned into an administrative partnership, one that gave Habibullah an acute insight into Rajiv Gandhi’s political life. But equally, in this lucid memoir, recounting his years in the Indian Administrative Service, particularly at the Prime Minister’s Office, he walks us through the last three decades of the twentieth century—in many ways, the most formative years of Indian history. Habibullah also seeks to demystify the workings of the Indian government and bureaucracy: the modernisation of the Nehruvian nation, the turbulence of the Khalistan years in Punjab, the introduction of grassroots policies aimed at poverty alleviation in rural India, the beginning of telecommunications services, the Shah Bano case, the opening of the locks at Babri Masjid–Ram Janmabhoomi, Indian interventions in Sri Lanka, and much else. In this, the author, a natural raconteur, is more than successful, telling the tale in his inimitably candid and self-effacing manner.

Telangana state is a political freedom in a democracy. ...........

Sonia Gandhi was born in Orbassano-a small town in Italy near Turin on 9th of December 1946. She was full of life and a bubbly youngster who wanted to be a teacher. She met Rajiv Gandhi when she was studying in London. Both developed an instant liking for each other which resulted in marriage and Sonia became a member of Gandhi family. This introduced her to politics in the later stage of her life and made her the top politician of the biggest democracy in the world. But after reaching on top the way she refused the top post, that of a Prime Minister, made her the best amongst such politicians who are in politics merely for their lust for posts and power. So what if she could not become a teacher she has definately given a teaching to Indian politics.