Javier Moro’s The Red Saree, a fictional biography of Sonia Gandhi, was able to reach stands almost after five years of its existence. So there was much excitement and curiosity among spectators to know why Moro did the risky job of writing this book, even without the consent of his protagonist. The book, which was banned in India and was criticised by the Congress party, is now creating news for highlighting the love story of Sonia and her husband and former prime minster Rajiv Gandhi.
“Isn’t it fascinating that a little girl from Italy, who was brought up in rural side of her country, studied abroad and finally fell in love with a guy who happened to be the most powerful man of IndiaIJ Throughout her life, she took decisions that she opposed the most in her heart. She was never interested in politics, she wanted to keep her kids away, got Indira Gandhi dead in her arms and eventually lost her husband. She was always aware of consequences of her husband’s political affiliations. From a recluse girl to becoming one of the most powerful icons in her country, her journey is extraordinary,” said Moro adding that Gandhi took decisions right from her teenage. “She was barely 18 when she moved out of her nation and told her father that she would come back despite knowing that she would never return,” he said.
The author informed that he first met Gandhi at Rashtrapati Bhavan with his uncle Dominique lapierre but wanted to leave an impression on her. “So when I introduced myself, I said, ‘I have been sleeping with you for the last four years’. She was shocked for a second before I explained that I have been doing an extensive research on her and her family, so I have been sleeping with many books on Gandhis,” he quipped.