New Delhi: The President of the Indian National Congress Party -- Sonia Gandhi -- who got into the list of 100 powerful women of the world in 2011 has turned 75 on Thursday i.e. on December 9.
The wife of late Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India, her foreign origin has been the subject of controversy and debate since her entry into politics.
Notably, she is the first foreign-born woman to lead a national party after independence. She has been the president of the oldest National Congress party which at present is exploring ways to maintain their existence in Indian politics after losing to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014 and again in 2019.
She has also served as the president of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). This alliance was in power at the center twice and she was also the longest-serving president of the Indian National Congress party as the party to some extent believes in hierarchy.
As some reports claimed, the original name of Sonia Gandhi is Edvige Antonia Albina Maino. She was born on December 9, 1946 and her present age is 75 years. She was born in the small Italian village of Luciana. Sonia Gandhi's father Stefano Maino was a former soldier.
He served as an army soldier in World War II and fought against the Soviet Army. He was a supporter of Benito Mussolini. Later he worked as a construction contractor. He died in 1983. Her mother's name is Paola Maino.
Initially, she spent years in Orbassano, near Turin, Italy. Sonia Gandhi was born in a Roman Catholic family and completed her early education from a Catholic school. Her dream was to become a flight attendant in an airline.
Reportedly, in 1964, she went to Cambridge University in London for higher education, where she studied English language and she was also working as a waitress in the restaurant of the same university.
The life of Sonia Gandhi is no less than an exciting film. Born in Italy, educated in England, and marrying the son of the Prime Minister of India could have been a happy dream for the daughter of a middle family, but it all came true in Sonia Gandhi's life.
Sonia Gandhi is a woman with a strong and determined personality. After the death of her husband Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi was left completely alone. There was no one in his family to guide him.
In such circumstances, he kept his spirits, instead of returning to Italy, he stayed in India and raised his children. She did not want to come into politics, but circumstances just had to make her come into politics.
On the strength of his hard work and perseverance, he made his place in politics. She was appointed as the President of Congress for 19 consecutive years, which is a record in itself.
Despite being related to the Nehru-Gandhi family, both Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi preferred to stay away from politics. Rajiv Gandhi then was working as a professional pilot in an airline while Sonia Gandhi was a homemaker. But as Sanjay Gandhi passed away in 1980, Rajiv Gandhi had to enter politics in 1982 to help Indira Gandhi.
After the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984, Sonia Gandhi entered politics to campaign for and assist Rajiv Gandhi; she played an active role in campaigning against Maneka Gandhi.
She stayed away from politics even after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, at that time the Congress under the leadership of PV Narasimha Rao had to face a severe defeat and estrangement started among the members of the Congress after Sitaram Kesari was made the president.
Finally, after 7 years of Rajiv Gandhi's death under pressure from party members, in 1997, Sonia Gandhi took the primary membership of the Congress in Kolkata's Planetary Session. And within 62 days of this, in 1998, she was elected the President of Congress.
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