SONIA GANDHI’s story represents the greatest transformational journey made by any world leader in the last four decades. Circumstance and tragedy , rather than ambition, paved her path to power. Raised in a traditional, middle class Italian family, Sonia met and fell in love with Rajiv Gandhi, son of future Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, while studying English in Cambridge.

Cruelly tested by the assassinations of her mother-in-law and of her husband, Sonia grew into a strong, authoritative but intensively private figure, now president of a coalition ruling over a billion people in the world’s largest democracy.

Through exclusive interviews with senior members of government past and present Sonia’s party colleagues, political opponents and close family friends, Rani Singh caste a new light on Sonia. In the first main stream biography of this inspirational woman, the authors compelling narrative retraces the path of brave and beautiful Sonia Gandhi, examining what her life and legacy mean for India.