She defied all the pollsters and political pundits. She led India?s Congress party to victory. And while the world was waiting to see its biggest democracy at work, she stunned everyone by giving up her claim to prime ministership, following bitter attacks over her Italian birth.

« I must humbly decline (?) it is my inner voice, my conscience.» Those humbling words brought thousands in India to tears while the world, astounded, gaped and waited for Sonia Gandhi to change her mind. But the steely will of this magnanimous woman was not to falter. As everybody resumed his daily chores and other political and world events have gripped media attention elsewhere, one question remains unanswered. Why did Sonia Gandhi back out at the last minute?

Press reports suggest it is because Rajiv Gandhi?s widow did not want to cause rifts in her late husband?s beloved country that she decided to renounce what the people of India have gladly offered her : the chance to carry on with her late husband?s dream. But then, why did Sonia go that far if she was not willing to fight till the bitter end? The answer might lie in her past. We know how adverse to the idea of her husband getting into politics Sonia was. Yet she relented after Sanjay Gandhi?s death and agreed to Rajiv?s resignation as a pilot with the Indian Airlines, to join politics.

When Rajiv was «snatched away from her» as she frequently says, it must have been hard to silence the inner voice that must surely have tormented her with the «I told you sos». This tragic woman has had her share of bad luck. After her mother-in-law was shot by her own bodyguards on October the 31St 1984, her husband was blown to pieces by a bomber who bent to touch his feet in a mark of respect before setting off explosives strapped to her waist.

For years Indira Gandhi?s dignified daughter-in-law stayed away from the limelight. Until she joined the Congress Party in 1998, taking over the reins. A move that had surprised many while her detractors never lost a chance to call her a political novice. It was surprising because her feelings about the political world were known. But no one knows what had caused the change of heart.

Chances are Sonia herself did not expect to win last May?s elections. But she did and while many salute her abnegation and sense of sacrifice, some choose to call it abdication. Rumour had it that Sonia Gandhi was calling the shots from within the Congress party while having Manmohan Singh act as a smokescreen. A little like our own Premier Bérenger tried to do way back in 1982 within the MMM.

SIMPLY GREATNESS ?

A rumour that has been vehemently denied by son Rahul Gandhi, who himself shows amazing humility for someone with a legacy such as his. So what is it? Is it under hand tactics or is it simply?greatness?

Everything would point towards the latter. Sonia Gandhi has a few lessons to teach the world. As she is gracing us with her quiet dignity, let us hope our rulers will silence their minds and take in what she has to impart.

«Let us not revel in our victory (?) let us never forget that it is to them (the people of India) that we owe our positions. Let us never slip, even for one minute (?) We must act in their interest, at all times we must acknowledge that it is their mandate that has given us this immense responsibility, at all times, we must be conscious of the truth that we are in fact, their humble servants.» (Extracts of Sonia Gandhi?s speech at Parliament on May 15th)

Thank you Sonia Gandhi. India is lucky.

Hectic 24 hours

Sonia Gandhi arrives on Monday 29th November at 16 hours. The visit takes place nine years after the initial one, in April 1995, when Rajiv Gandhi?s widow flew over to lay the foundation stone of the Science Centre in Bell Village that bears her late husband?s name. It is on the invitation of Mauritian Premier Paul Bérenger that the President of the Indian National Congress is visiting. The main reason for this 24-hour stop over is to inaugurate the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre.

The stay will be a hectic one. On top of the inauguration in Bell Village, Sonia Gandhi will attend a lunch hosted by President of the Republic, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, and a banquet given in her honour by Prime Minister Paul Bérenger. She will also meet opposition leader Navin Ramgoolam and will pay floral tributes at the «Samadhi» of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. Her visit follows Paul Bérenger?s trip to India in November last year.