Preface

I wanted a biography
that was written differently
but I couldn't find one,
so I proceeded on my own
with the criteria
set by me.
The person about whom I am writing
ought to be interesting
so also must be the form
in which it is written.
When I glanced around
the Indian political scene,
it was Sonia Gandhi
who caught my attention.
Being in the enviable position
she was in,
she was able to spin
political events
in a new fashion,
in a colorful fashion.
I saw her
through a fresh lens altogether
and here I present her
in a new light altogether.

Birth

You, Sonia Maino,
were born in a family of modest means
in a place called Orbassano,
an Italian village,
80 km from Turin
on December 9, 1946.
Who could have imagined
that your fate
would be tied up so closely
with that of India's history
and that of the Congress party,
thousands of miles away?

Meeting Musharraf

Friendly relations
between India and Pakistan
is an issue
that always bothers you,
for peace in the subcontinent
you have at heart.
No wonder when you and Musharraf met
it was discussed.
It formed part
of the election debate
and was the first major initiative
that your government took.

Meeting Clinton

When Bill Clinton,
the former American President,
visited the subcontinent,
he made it a point
to call on you
in New Delhi
after his tour
of Jaipur,
where he rode an elephant
and caught everyone's attention.

Meeting The Russian President

You had a meeting
with Putin,
the Russian President,
in his summer residence.
There was a discussion
on greater cultural cooperation
between the two countries,
India and Russia,
which were Cold War allies
and still enjoy good relations.
It is your objective
as Chairperson
of India's ruling coalition
to forge closer ties
with all nations,
big and small alike.

Contact Author: