NEW DELHI: In her memoir out on November 10, Congress matriarch Sonia Gandhi recalls losing her first child, a premature baby boy, in January 1969. She recounts her grief, her refusal to let the newborn’s remains be consigned to a river, and how Rajiv and Sanjay Gandhi buried him at the family’s Mehrauli farm.
The joy of expecting their first child, the preparations for their arrival and the anticipation of becoming parents gave way to heartbreak for Sonia Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in January 1969. What followed was a deeply personal tragedy, compounded by grief, questions over the baby’s final rites and a cruel newspaper report that the now Congress matriarch says continued to haunt her.
She has also written about the circumstances surrounding his burial, the support she received from her family and the emotional toll of the tragedy.
Sonia writes that she and Rajiv were overjoyed when they learnt in September that she was expecting. Her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, too, was delighted at the news. Writing to a friend posted abroad, Indira said, “May I let you into a secret? I am expecting to become a grandmother in April. We are all thrilled.”
Indira Gandhi greeted the news with a kiss and a hug, playfully remarking, “One big baby having another baby!” Sonia writes that she appreciated the affection but questioned Rajiv about the remark, wondering whether she behaved like a baby despite trying her best. Rajiv assured her that it was meant affectionately, although she remained unconvinced.
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