Who hasn’t heard of ‘Game of Thrones’? I am pretty sure each one of you is aware of the mighty series. I mean, c’mon. ‘GOT’ is everywhere – the hoardings, the internet, the banners, the wallpapers, your tees, my walls – it’s everywhere! You’ve got to admit it, nothing has been this huge since our very own Harry Potter. The King and the Queen, the Lords and the Ladies, the Knights and the Squires and of course, not to forget the wildlings and the white walkers that take us to a far-off land of wild imagination and fantasies.
Every Monday for 10 weeks straight, us fans discover the fate of our favourite characters that are mercilessly killed off in the most barbarous ways by the man behind it all – George R.R. Martin. On the other hand are our beloved politicians who are the real knights and kings in their own right. It is they who play the real ‘game of thrones’. Like every other ‘GOT’ fan, I watch the show religiously and discuss it with my friends. One such discussion is what got me to thinking that ‘GOT’ is set very much along the lines of politics and, since I am an Indian and more familiar with Indian politicians, I’d like to present a comparison between the same.
Lord Eddard Stark
Known for his unwavering sense of honour and justice, he somehow resembles our very own Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji, the former Prime Minister of India. It will not be wrong to say that the ‘north’ remembers both of them!
Daenerys Targaryen aka Khaleesi
Yes, we have a Khaleesi in India and even though she may not be seen as ‘conventionally sexy’, she is indeed beautiful. Worshipped by many and hailed as Amma in the state of Tamil Nadu, the former chief minister was not an arsonist, but she had a past that can make you cringe.
P.S. She may not have been the mother of dragons, but she sure was Amma to the poor.
Cersei Lannister
The Lannisters are very much similar to our very own Gandhi family with respect to the power that they had acquired in the past decades. Very much like the current situation in our very own country, the Lannisters are facing similar hurdles in their lives. Cersei’s character reminds me of the very puissant Mrs. Sonia Gandhi! Just like Cersei, she married a ‘Prince’ from a foreign land and became the Queen in her own right. She can go to any extent to make sure that her kids are safe and well, let’s be honest, Sonia Ji does that every other day. Also, just like Cersei, she loves her dear son more than anything in this world.
Tommen
Along with mommy, let’s tag along the baby boy. Yes, you guessed it right. Plump, good-looking and weak-willed, as many would argue. Just like his alter ego is our very own ‘young’ prince, Rahul Gandhi! They both try really hard but, time and again, they have proven that they are no darn good to hold their respective titles.
Tywin Lannister
Let’s not leave the grandpa behind. Just like Tywin had been the Hand of the King, Nehru Ji was the right hand of Mahatma Gandhi too! Though Nehru Ji wasn’t as ruthless as Tywin Lannister, but even then the resemblance between the two is uncanny. Both of them lost their wives at a young age and both of them laid down an empire for their families to rule for decades. They are both the perfect embodiment of power.
Roose Bolton
Mild-mannered, cold, calculating and an infallible skill for strategy are the characteristic traits of Lord Bolton. He is in dire need of a son who can ensure that his empire grows manifold and he finds the same in his bastard son, Ramsay Snow. Now, our desi Boltons may not be as uncouth and sadistic as their counterparts, but yes, many people would agree that gunda-raj flourishes in their reign. Yes, you guessed it right! Mulayam Singh Yadav seems to be the missing piece in our game of thrones. Not to forget, both of them were the wardens of ‘North’. Thank goodness, Mr. Akhilesh Yadav did not turn out to be a monster like Ramsay Bolton! Touche.
Walder Frey
He is a bitter man who is always competing with other noblemen for some reason or the other. He is a difficult man to please, since he is easily offended and hence, it is hard to deal with him. Having said that, he has achieved enough on his own that can last for generations to come. This character bears resemblance to our own Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav. They both have quite a few kids too!
Petyr Baelish
Littlefinger has always been an unfathomable character. He seemed to be doing something but we never got to know of his real intentions. At times, he seemed to the most sensible and learned man while at others, he was an inscrutable man whose actions are impossible to decipher. One such man in our political dimension is Shashi Tharoor. He may be extremely talented and a highly educated man, but his words are indeed difficult to interpret.
Ser Davos
He’s a perspicacious and a sagacious man, but he is devoted to a man to such an extent that all his wisdom and knowledge is not even worth a dime. His behavioural traits are very similar to the one and only Dr. Manmohan Singh. Just like Dr. Singh is often referred to as a puppet of the Gandhi clan, Ser Davos is a puppet of Stannis Baratheon.
Lady Olenna
Yes, we have someone who has the hallmarks of Lady Olenna back in India. Just like Lady Olenna, she is extremely powerful and hungry for more. She cannot be dethroned from her position as she has a formidable spirit and an eloquent personality. They call her Dadi in ‘GOT’, we call her Didi in India. Mamata Banerjee, she is!
And the last one is…..
Yara Greyjoy
She’s a woman of valour and strength stuck in a world of unlettered and ignorant men. She is full of potential and she has to go a long way. A lot is at stake, but she is a warrior, she will put on a fight and she will survive. The only woman who made a place for herself in the ‘men’s world’ is Kiran Bedi, an inspiration for many. She faced similar hurdles in life, but emerged as a champion in the end!
I could have come up with a few more, but I’ve got to get back to my studies and save myself from the embarrassment of flunking in my examinations. I know I can nail it!
P.S. Please note that in no way have I intended to defame any politician or character for that matter. This article has been written in good faith and I expect you all to have a good time reading it whilst you wait for the next episode’s torrent link to be available on the internet!