Barring such vieled political statements, Sonia hid her emotions behind a thick veil of secrecy keeping observers guessing about whether she nursed political intentions at all. But fawning Congressmen, looking for a charismatic personality to lead the party to electoral success, kept sending their appeals to her to come and take over the party.

Since Rajiv's death, Sonia had led a life of near recluse for six years but for her appearances at a few official functions. She touched many a heart when she poured out her 'vedna' (agony) at a public meeting a few years ago in Amethi about the delay in the probe of Rajiv assassination case.

It was a real emotional moment for actor Sanjay Dutt and his two sisters when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi released a book on their actor parents — Sunil and Nargis Dutt.

Before entering politics Smt. Sonia Gandhi had spent a considerable part of her time in the work of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. It was during her association with the Foundation that she devoted special attention to the welfare of women, children and disabled as well as application of Science and Technology for the cause of the common man.

Smt. Sonia Gandhi - mother of two children, patron of many national trusts, museums and child welfare associations and a keen student of Indian history and culture - entered public life after seven long years of public demand and persuasion by Congress workers after her husband's demise (Rajiv Gandhi laid down his life in the cause of the Nation and became the target of a vicious terrorist attack on the night of May 21, 1991). She campaigned vigorously for the Congress on the eve of the 1998 Parliamentary elections and was elected Party President in April, 1998.

The great leader and brave women who dares to go against tides of terrorism.

Now not only Sonia is in the thick of politics, but her children, Rahul and Priyanka, too are in great demand in the Congress circle for taking over the Youth Congress