Raihan Vadra, fiancee Aviva Baig's special contribution to Sonia Gandhi's book

Here's a sweet little detail about Sonia Gandhi's newly released and much-talked-about memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love. It has to do with her grandson Raihan Vadra, and his fiancee Aviva Baig.Raihan Vadra and Aviva Baig's special role in Sonia Gandhi's book. (Photos: Instagram/Raihan Vadra and Aviva Baig) Sonia Gandhi’s much-awaited memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, is finally out, and the book has already found itself in the headlines for a whole host of reasons.

From the endearing details of her love story with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and her early experiences with Indian food to the personal tragedies she endured, the dynamics within the Gandhi household and her entry into politics, the memoir offers readers a glimpse into a life that has largely remained private.There is, of course, the political debate surrounding the book, too. While Sonia Gandhi revisits some of the most consequential moments in India's political history, the memoir has also attracted attention for several factual inaccuracies.But amid all the political conversations, historical references and controversies, there is one rather sweet detail that has a special family connection.

Sonia Gandhi’s grandson Raihan Vadra and his fiancee Aviva Baig have a special contribution to the book. The couple photographed the back cover of the memoir.The tale of two photosThe back cover features a warm, colourful photograph of Sonia Gandhi, dressed in a saree and smiling at the camera.

Wearing her familiar glasses, with her kohl-rimmed eyes and silver hair pulled back with a hairband, the Congress leader looks relaxed and at ease. A kalaava is visible on one wrist, while a watch adorns the other.

Back cover photograph of Sonia Gandhi's memoir by Raihan Vadra and Aviva Baig. The photograph offers a striking contrast to the monochrome picture on the front cover.

Interestingly, the two photographs also bring together two generations of the family through the lens of photography.The front-cover photograph was taken by Rajiv Gandhi in Turin, Italy, in 1966, when Sonia was just 20 years old and long before she became part of India's most prominent political family. Six decades later, the back-cover photograph was taken in Delhi by her grandson Raihan Vadra and his partner Aviva Baig.

A portrait of Sonia Gandhi, captured by Rajiv Gandhi, features on the front cover of her book. In a way, the two photographs frame Sonia Gandhi's extraordinary journey — from a young woman in Italy who fell in love with Rajiv Gandhi to the matriarch of the Nehru-Gandhi family.Who are Raihan Vadra and Aviva Baig?Raihan Vadra is the son of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and businessman Robert Vadra, and the grandson of Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi.

A visual artist and photographer, Raihan has been interested in photography since childhood. His portfolio includes wildlife, street and commercial photography.He also stepped behind the camera for Sonia Gandhi's cover shoot for Harper's Bazaar India.His photography career recently found itself in the news following a controversy surrounding his solo exhibition, No Idea Is Final, at Delhi's Bikaner House in October 2026.The exhibition was supposed to feature over 100 photographs, including several documenting student and youth protests in Delhi.

However, hours before the show was scheduled to open, Raihan was asked to remove or replace over 70 photographs. He said the venue had objected to the political nature of several images, despite his having shared the exhibition layout in advance.Bikaner House maintained that certain photographs were inconsistent with its exhibition policy.

The episode triggered a political and artistic debate, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra publicly backing her son and expressing pride in his work.Aviva Baig, meanwhile, is a Delhi-based photographer and creative professional. She is also the co-founder of Atelier 11, a photography studio and production company that works with brands, agencies and independent clients.The couple, who had been dating for several years, got engaged in an intimate ceremony in December 2025.- Ends