Sonia Gandhi's highly anticipated memoir, titled Belonging: A Journey of Love, is drawing significant attention for its unique cover art, which includes photographs taken by both her late husband, Rajiv Gandhi, and her grandson, Raihan Vadra. This intergenerational photographic contribution also features Raihan's fiancée, Aviva Baig, creating a visual narrative that spans decades of the Gandhi family's history.
The front cover of the memoir presents a black-and-white photograph of Sonia Gandhi, captured by Rajiv Gandhi in Turin, Italy, in 1966. At the time, she was 20 years old, long before her prominent role in Indian politics. This intimate portrait offers a glimpse into her early life and her relationship with Rajiv.
In stark contrast, the back cover features a contemporary photograph of the Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson, taken in Delhi in 2026 by her grandson, Raihan Vadra, and Aviva Baig. This recent portrait connects her past with her present, reflecting the different stages of her life journey.
These two photographs, created nearly six decades apart, underscore the familial bonds central to Sonia Gandhi's story. While the front cover evokes memories of her youth and her bond with Rajiv Gandhi, the back cover highlights her ongoing connection with the younger generation of her family.
Raihan Vadra, the son of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and businessman Robert Vadra, is an accomplished visual artist and photographer known for his work in wildlife, street photography, and contemporary life. Aviva Baig, his fiancée, is a Delhi-based photographer and co-founder of Atelier 11, a photography studio. Their collaborative effort on the memoir's back cover adds a personal and artistic dimension to the publication.