More than three decades have passed since the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Following the explosion, photographs of Rajiv’s mortal remains were taken—images that Sonia Gandhi has never seen to this day. Her son, Rahul, and daughter, Priyanka, have shielded her from this harrowing sight. In her book, Sonia writes that Rahul and Priyanka instructed their staff to thoroughly screen newspapers and magazines before allowing them to reach her. They ensured that any photographs of Rajiv’s assassination—which appeared repeatedly in the media—were kept away from her.
Sonia writes that during that difficult period, she became like a child in need of protection, while Rahul and Priyanka stepped into the role of parents. Even 35 years after the incident, she has not looked at the final photograph of Rajiv taken after the explosion. In her recently published book, Belonging, Sonia has shared many such untold stories.
