From Indiatimes · Abhishek Mishra · · 2m
Sonia Gandhi's candid world leader recollections
Sonia Gandhi shares candid moments with Clinton, Sarkozy and Diana in memoir.
In brief
Sonia Gandhi shares candid moments with Clinton, Sarkozy and Diana in memoir. Sonia Gandhi describes Bill Clinton's 'old habit' of sizing up women, Nicolas Sarkozy's love life, and Princess Diana's brief India visit in her memoir Belonging: A Journey Of Love. Originally reported by Indiatimes.
Clinton's 'old habit'
Sonia Gandhi recalls Bill Clinton during his 2000 India visit surreptitiously sizing up women at receptions.
“old habits die hard”
Sarkozy's love life
Sarkozy visited India in 2008 without his partner Carla Bruni, messaging her while being questioned about their relationship.
“President Sarkozy seemed unperturbed by the cross-examination, even eager to share details of his love life”
Diana's India visit
Princess Diana visited India in 1992, posing alone at the Taj Mahal's 'love bench' and meeting Sonia Gandhi.
“On the very day she famously posed alone on what I call the 'love bench' in front of the Taj Mahal”
Diana's tea meeting
Diana met Sonia Gandhi's mother and daughter at a tea gathering in 1992, speaking Italian with Diana.
“Piacere, comne stai?”
Diana's wave
Diana waved to Sonia Gandhi's mother as she left the tea meeting in 1992.
“Ciao. Nonna!”
Diana's hairdresser moment
Sonia Gandhi wrote a note to Diana at a hairdresser's but accidentally wrote 'Hye' instead of 'Hi'.
“I scribbled a word and passed it on to her, and the next second realised that instead of 'Hi', I had written 'Hye'”
Clinton's Kashmir comments
Clinton described Kashmir as 'a nuclear flashpoint, one of the most dangerous places on earth'.
“a nuclear flashpoint, one of the most dangerous places on earth”
Sarkozy's India speech
Sarkozy spoke to India's prime minister about the country's responsibilities in an arrogant manner.
“He spoke cordially but infrequently, while her husband held forth, expounding his views to our prime minister on what India should do in what I felt was a rather arrogant manner”
Diana's marriage issues
Diana's marriage was strained during her 1992 India visit, with her appearing morose.
“she appeared morose, though looking wonderful in a striking red and purple two-piece suit”
Sarkozy's marriage
Sarkozy married Carla Bruni after his 2008 India visit, with her being a popular singer and model.
“She spoke cordially but infrequently, while her husband held forth, expounding his views to our prime minister on what India should do in what I felt was a rather arrogant manner”
Diana's royal family
Diana was the 'real star' of the British royal family during her 1992 India visit.
“The real star of that family had of course been Princess Diana: Tall and slim, with large blue eyes, an enchanting smile, and a magnetic personality”
Sarkozy's India dinner
Sarkozy and Bruni attended a private dinner hosted by India's prime minister in 2008.
“The couple made a joint appearance in India on a subsequent visit, attending a private dinner hosted by then prime minister Manmohan Singh and his wife”
Clinton's 2000 India visit
Clinton visited India in 2000, staying at the Sheraton hotel with his daughter Chelsea and delegation.
“Recalling Clinton's 2000 visit, Sonia writes about meeting the then US president at the Sheraton hotel”
Sarkozy's 2008 India visit
Sarkozy visited India in 2008 without his partner Carla Bruni, who was a singer and model.
“It was said that he (Sarkozy) had been advised not to bring her (Bruni) because they were unmarried which would have been awkward at official functions”
Diana's 1981 wedding
Diana married Prince Charles in 1981, with Sonia Gandhi attending the wedding.
“I can never forget how ravishing she was as a bride when Rajiv and I attended their wedding in 1981”
Diana's 1992 India visit
Diana visited India in 1992, posing alone at the Taj Mahal's 'love bench' and meeting Sonia Gandhi.
“On the very day she famously posed alone on what I call the 'love bench' in front of the Taj Mahal”
What to remember
Sonia Gandhi describes Bill Clinton's 'old habit' of sizing up women, Nicolas Sarkozy's love life, and Princess Diana's brief India visit in her memoir Belonging: A Journey Of Love.
