by Javier Moro
Genre: Non-fiction
Available in different formats and languages.
In India, Sonia Gandhi is a mystery, especially for the generations born after 1960 in India. While some may remember Indira and Rajiv Gandhi and their horrible assassinations which wounded their psyche as children and chose to forget it as it is too painful that made the rise of the Hindu Right in the late 80s possible, this novel makes it hard to forget and gives a glimpse into the life of Sonia Gandhi.
The Red Sari is almost a biographical account of Sonia Gandhi and addresses most of the accusation filled rhetoric of the media and politicians of different parties in India against Sonia Gandhi who they describe as "a person with power but no responsibility." Her Italian origins are mocked at and some go to the extent of claiming that she is a foreign spy. This book answers their accusations.
The style is crisp. It lifts the curtain behind the mystery that is Sonia Gandhi and introduces the reader to her family, her love story, the story of Indira, Sanjay and Rajiv ever since she became the elder daughter-in-law, her children and grandchildren, the 1971 war, the emergency, Operation Blue Star, the Bofors scandal, the security scares and the reason she agreed to become Congress President finally even though she was offered it on a platter again and again since Rajiv's murder. It is like reading the history of India from 1968 with all its triumphs and tragedies and the challenges faced by the leaders.
This is a must read for all Indians born after 1960 and for those interested in Indian politics. Amazing this book has been ignored by the media.
You can buy the book here or here in India
