In the book 'Blending: A Journey of Love,' written as a way for former Congress president Sonia Gandhi to share her old memories, she has shared many of her memories of India. In it, she has also spoken about her son Rahul Gandhi.
Following the defeat of Rahul Gandhi's grandmother Indira Gandhi in the 1977 election, his seventh birthday turned into a sad occasion because, except for one of Rahul Gandhi's friends, no one else came.
On Rahul’s birthday, June 19, we had just moved into our new home at 12, Willington Crescent. Still, I was determined to celebrate his birthday on a small scale for him. He had given me a list of friends he wanted to invite. They were all children who had attended his previous birthday parties.
For the birthday celebration, there were some simple decorations, a homemade cake, snacks, and potato chips that were loved by everyone, from children to adults.
Priyanka Gandhi helped prepare and decorate the cake. She climbed onto a chair, was lifted and held up by her brother, and hung balloons on the veranda doors. At every step, she would say, “Mom, look, Mom, look — how beautiful it is.” Everything was ready soon. The balloons were colorfully arranged on the table in the front veranda. While the family waited for the guests to arrive, Rahul and Priyanka took one last look at the arrangements.
Time kept passing. Only Siddharth, Rahul’s close friend, came alone. A little more time passed. Thinking there might have been some mix-up in the information exchange, I called each child’s parents. But their responses were strangely evasive, as if they were hiding something. That was when I understood the truth. No other children were coming. Yes, the situation had truly changed.
The natural friendship between the seven-year-old boy and his classmates was shattered by politics. Although his grandmother and we tried to cheer Rahul up, he was deeply distressed. We cut the cake with balloons and empty chairs around us, but there was no real excitement in it. My mother-in-law returned the box of toys to me and sadly said that we could use it another time.
Rajiv Gandhi later tried to comfort Rahul. He told him, “It is not your friends’ fault, Rahul; do not be angry with them.” He said that perhaps their parents might be afraid of being friendly with your family. He said that some people are afraid of the government. It was a very difficult period for the children. Political turmoil and tension affected their lives both at home and outside.
Rahul and Priyanka were sometimes mocked by their schoolmates. They would come home upset and ask me, 'Mom, why do people call father and grandmother thieves? Have they done something bad?' I would try to explain and calm them down,'' she noted.