Sonia Gandhi recalls loss of firstborn in new memoir

In her recently released memoir, Sonia Gandhi recounts the emotional toll of losing her firstborn child decades ago, describing how she and her late husband Rajiv Gandhi grieved the loss together.

According to the autobiography, the infant died in January 1969. Gandhi revealed that she refused to allow the newborn's body to be consigned to the river, a decision that reflected her personal wishes during a moment of profound sorrow.

Instead, the body was laid to rest at the family's farmhouse in Mehrauli, New Delhi. Gandhi wrote that both she and Rajiv Gandhi were devastated by the tragedy, with the Congress leader noting that she wept inconsolably during this period of mourning.

The revelation in 'Belonging: A Journey of Love' provides rare insight into Gandhi's personal life and the challenges she faced during the early years of her marriage into one of India's most prominent political families. The memoir, which chronicles Gandhi's life journey, has brought renewed attention to her experiences before becoming a central figure in Indian politics.