Sonia Gandhi - widow of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi: biography

Italian (from the birth) Sonia Gandhi, whose biography is unusual and surprising, became the national Indian leader. She is the widow of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the daughter-in-law of his mother Indira. Politician, chairman of the Indian Congress. At the top of political activity, Sonia was due to her marriage and a few very serious tragedies that occurred in her life. But first things first.

A family

Sonia Gandhi was born on January 9, 1946 near the car capital of Italy (Turin), in the small town of Orbassano. It is located twenty kilometers from Turin. Her family was Catholic, very conservative and wealthy. At birth, Sonia was named Antonia Mayno. She was the third daughter. Her mother's name was Paola. Sonia from early childhood was brought up in severity.

Father Sony served on the Eastern Front, in the Italian military unit. This unit was defeated at Stalingrad by the Red Army. And Sony's father was captured by the Russians. When he returned to his homeland, he began to engage in construction business. Despite his captivity, he had great respect for Russian culture and history. Therefore, he named all three of his daughters Russian names. He died in the eighty-third year.

Education

Sonia Gandhi first went to a regular Catholic school. Thanks to a wealthy family in the sixty-fifth year, she was sent to continue her studies in the UK, Cambridge University. At that time she was already eighteen years old. Sonia studied literature and English. Lived in a British family.

Acquaintance of Sonya with Rajiv

At the University, Sonya met her future husband, Rajiv. She drew attention to him during dinner in a small restaurant. Rajiv Gandhi Often went there with friends. Sonia immediately noticed him, since he stood out among all the young people not only with his appearance, but also with manners.

He was introduced to Rajiv by their mutual friend. From that moment on, young people began to meet often. Rajiv Belonged to one of the most famous Indian families. His grandfather was a prime minister and an authoritative world leader. And Indira Gandhi, Rajiv's mother, began to lead the party of the national Indian congress after her father. Later she was the Prime Minister of the country.

The marriage of Sonya Gandhi

First, Rajiv's parents were against his marriage to a foreigner. His wife was the granddaughter of the Indian president. But the love of Sonya and Rajiv was strong. And they stubbornly continued to meet.

As a result, since Rajiv was far from politics and not interested in it, the parents agreed to this marriage. The wedding of Sonya and the future Prime Minister of India took place in the sixty-eighth year in Delhi. At the celebration attended by only fifty people. For such a famous family as Gandhi, it was a very modest number of guests. The groom's relatives did not want to advertise this marriage much.

Sonya studied Indian Hindi, began to wear saris. The newlyweds lived in the house of Indira. Rajiv Gandhi worked as a pilot in the airline, and Sonia settled down as a teacher at the Institute of Contemporary Art.

Children

They had a good family life. In the seventieth year the first-born was born. Sonia and Rajiv named him Rahul Gandhi. In the seventy-first year, a daughter appeared. She was given the name Priyanka. Many years later, after Sonya's refusal to be prime minister, her son continued the political activities of the family dynasty. Priyanka's daughter married a businessman Vadra and gave birth to a child. So Sonya became a grandmother.

The beginning of political activity

Sonia was against Rajiv's policy. But after the death of his brother in the eightieth year, he remained the only heir in the family. Sonia had to put up with the duties, which as a result fell on the shoulders of Rajiv.

Murder of Indira Gandhi

The murder of Indira Gandhi Sonia was going through very hard. She managed to fall in love with this woman. On November 31, 1984, in the morning, Sonya heard shots in the yard. She ran out into the street in one shirt and saw Indira Gandhi lying in the blood. Sonia accompanied her to the hospital, pressed her body to her body to ease the pain. But Indira was already dead at the time. As it turned out later, her own guards, followers of the Sikhs, were killed. After the assassination of Indira, Gandhi Rajiv led her party in the parliamentary elections.

Sonia Gandhi Remains a widow

As a result, Sonya's husband won and became prime minister. Five years, while Rajiv held this honorary post, she was very afraid for his life. And not in vain. In the eighty-ninth year she became a widow. Rajiv was killed by terrorists. After his death, Sonya spent ten years in a reclusive way of life. But from India she did not leave, as her detractors wished her. She continued to raise children in Indian culture.

To the question: "Do Sonya Gandhi love in India?" - you can answer unequivocally: "Yes." Even in times when her husband was alive, she helped the poor and disadvantaged. Provided assistance to the victims of terror. After the death of her husband, she continued to head the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and help people.

The beginning of political career

For ten years, while Sonya mourned her beloved husband, his political party, which he headed, almost collapsed. This made her shake, and in the ninety-ninth year she took up active work. Sonia Gandhi, the widow of Rajiv, continued the political course begun by his family.

She began with understanding the basics of oratory and public speaking. For the model was taken the image of Indira Gandhi. Sonia decisively cleansed the party ranks. Increased discipline and debugged the organizational activities. She perfectly learned Hindi, so it was easier to communicate with the common people. Studied the speeches and mannerisms of Indira Gandhi. And later I tried to follow her experience. Hardly criticized the ruling coalition.

As a result of her labors in 2004, the party, which, after the death of her husband, was led by Sonya, won the election. And she herself became a contender for the post of prime minister of India.

On the political Olympus

After the victory of the party, heated debates began, whether the foreigner had the right to lead the country. To avoid a split, Sonia Gandhi refused to fight for the post of prime minister. For this gesture, she was called the queen.

Numerous supporters of Sony tried to convince her, to change the decision. But she firmly stood her ground, explaining that her goal was not the highest leadership position, but the desire to have a strong and stable government at the head of India.

Instead of herself as prime minister of the country, Sonya proposed the candidature of Manmohan Singh. As a result, he was approved at the elections and took this highest post.

Sonia today

To date, Sonia Gandhi and her children have revived the dynasty. She herself remains the leader of the party of the Indian National Congress. In 2010, she was re-elected to this position for the fourth time. Any meeting of the rulers of other countries that come to India includes compulsory communication with Sonya. This fate did not escape and Vladimir Putin, when he visited this country on an official visit.

Rahul Gandhi was elected vice-president of the party. Experts assessed this as a speedy nomination for him as prime minister of India. Sonia is still considered one of the most influential ladies of the world. Forbes magazine included it in 2011 in the top 10 famous women of the planet.

Health of Sonya Gandhi

In recent years, Sonya Gandhi's health has deteriorated. In the summer of 2013, she was taken to the hospital right from the parliamentary meeting. She was suffering from pain in her chest. Sonia was taken to the intensive care unit. A survey was conducted and her condition was recognized as stable. In five hours Sonia was discharged. The cause of the pain doctors called the side effects of medications, which she at that time was taking.

In 2014, Sonya again went to the hospital. This time she had an infection of the respiratory tract. She had to spend some time in the clinic until she was fully recovered.