Sonia Gandhi is an Indian politician. She was born on 9 December 1946 in Lusiana, Conco, Italy. She attended a Catholic School in Orbassano, Turin, Italy. She did her graduation from Bell Educational Trust’s Language School, Cambridge City, England. 

Her father’s name was Stefano Maino, and her mother’s name was Paola Maino.

She was married to Rajiv Gandhi. She is a mother to two children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. 

Interesting facts about Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi’s birth name was Edvinge Antonia Albina Maino. 

Her father fought against Hitler's Soviet forces on the Eastern Front during World War II.

Sonia Gandhi was born in Italy. At the age of 18, she moved to the United Kingdom.  

Sonia Gandhi’s marriage with Rajiv Gandhi

In the year 1965, she met Rajiv Gandhi for the first time at the Varsity Restaurant in Cambridge. Rajiv Gandhi was pursuing mechanical engineering at Trinity College at the time.

Sonia Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi tied the knot in the year 1968. 

After Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in the year 1991, Sonia Gandhi spent six years in solitude, mourning the loss of her husband.

Sonia Gandhi’s political journey

In the year 1997, she was elected as a member of the Indian National Congress party. The following year, she became the leader of the party. 

In 1999, she contested the Lok Sabha elections from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh and Bellary in Karnataka and consequently won both the seats.

In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, she won the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh.

Sonia Gandhi as a leader

On 16 May 2004, she was elected leader of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government (15-party coalition).

Sonia Gandhi is the longest-serving President of the Congress party. 

Sonia Gandhi has authored four books in her political journey namely, ‘Rajiv’s World,’ ‘Rajiv,’ ‘Conflict and Coexistence’ and ‘Sonia Gandhi: Emergence of the Modern India.’