Sonia Gandhi’s journey in rare photographs

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New Delhi: Sonia Gandhi entered politics in 1997, six years after the death of her husband, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. As a member of one of India’s leading political parties, the Congress Party, Sonia bore the weight of the Gandhi family’s political and cultural legacy.

Now, as the politician releases her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, ThePrint looks back at her journey through the years in photos.

Sonia accompanies her husband Rajiv Gandhi as he files his nomination papers in Amethi | Praveen Jain

Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul await the body of Rajiv Gandhi who was assassinated a day before at Sri Perumbudur in Tamil Nadu | Praveen Jain

Rajiv Gandhi’s widow Sonia Gandhi sits next to his body at Teen Murti House in New Delhi | Praveen Jain

Mother and daughter, Sonia and Priyanka Gandhi, united in grief and in their memories at Rajiv Gandhi’s samadhi | Praveen Jain

Sonia Gandhi fired the first salvo at the PV Narasimha Rao government in Amethi following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. She accused the government of going slow in probing Rajiv’s death | Praveen Jain

Congress leader Madhav Rao Scindia watches Sonia Gandhi paying homage to Indira Gandhi at Shakti Sthal | Praveen Jain

Sonia with Rahul and Priyanka at Rajiv Gandhi’s samadhi | Praveen Jain

The Gandhi family sits in mourning at Rajiv Gandhi’s samadhi | Praveen Jain

A rare display of public emotion. Sonia Gandhi at a ceremony to commemorate the late Indira Gandhi at Rashtrapati Bhavan | Praveen Jain

Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao at a function at Teen Murti House | Praveen Jain

Sonia Gandhi’s smiling visage doesn’t reveal her bitterness for bête noires VP Singh and Chandra Shekhar. Sonia had accused Chandra Shekhar of withdrawing Rajiv Gandhi’s security, leading to his assassination | Praveen Jain

Congress leaders welcome their High Command at 10, Janpath in New Delhi | Praveen Jain

When the hand is supreme: Sonia Gandhi soon after nominating Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. The UPA won the 2004 elections | Praveen Jain

Sonia’s eyes send the message to LK Advani, recently defeated at the polls. While, Manmohan Singh is being sworn in as prime minister | Praveen Jain

Pranab Mukherji, Sonia Gandhi, and Manmohan Singh at the swearing in of the cabinet in 2004 at Rashtrapati Bhavan | Praveen Jain

Sonia always able to strike the right note places an offering at Ajmer Sharif | Praveen Jain

Sonia admires an exhibition on Army Day | Praveen Jain