{
  "id": 16318077,
  "title": "Sonia Gandhi shares early memories on X debut",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/sonia-gandhi-shares-early-memories-on-x-debut",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-24T10:45:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/rajiv-was-very-good-looking-sonia-gandhi-shares-early-memories-with-him-on-x-debut/articleshow/135168351.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Congress leader Sonia Gandhi made her debut on social media platform X on Saturday, sharing early memories of her life with her late husband, late Rajiv Gandhi. In a nearly two-minute video posted on X and Instagram, Gandhi recalled how she met Rajiv in Cambridge in 1965. The pair created a world filled with love, laughter and memories together, she said.\n\nGandhi described Rajiv Gandhi as a very good-looking and gentle person. She explained that food in England during their time was scarce, and they sought a place where they could enjoy Italian cuisine. They discovered the Varsity Restaurant, a Greek restaurant frequented by European and Indian students alike. It was in this restaurant that Gandhi met Rajiv Gandhi.\n\nIn the video, Gandhi revealed that she had a common friend who introduced her to the former prime minister. Upon their first meeting, she felt an immediate connection, recognizing that she would love to be with him. Rajiv, too, felt the same way, she recalled, noting that his gentleness was striking.\n\nThe former Congress chief went on to share how they became friends, attended parties together, and visited various sights. One Valentine's Day party stood out, where Gandhi felt an even stronger bond with Rajiv. His gentle demeanor touched her deeply, leaving an indelible impression on her.\n\nThis is Sonia Gandhi's first foray into social media, as she had not previously had accounts on X, Instagram, or Facebook. She has been using the Congress's X handle to share videos and messages with the public. She currently follows the X handles of herself, her son Rahul Gandhi, daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge.\n\nThe Congress leader has garnered a significant following on X within hours of her debut, as several Congress leaders and others began following her handle. Gandhi's upcoming book, \"Belonging: A Journey of Love,\" will be launched on November 10. HarperCollins India will publish the memoir, which traces her life from her childhood in post-war Veneto, Italy, to her meeting with Rajiv Gandhi in Cambridge in 1965. The book covers her marriage to Rajiv, her introduction to her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, and her adaptation to life in India, including learning Hindi, wearing saris, and adjusting to Indian food and culture.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}