‘The Winter is coming!’ – pretty much most people in ‘Game of Thrones’.

I grew up among tales, and fables, and miraculously fantastic stories, ones that made my childhood a cherished one, ones that my mother tirelessly repeated, selectively, depending on my mood. It is a great thing to give hope to children, a hope of a great good world, where truth prevails, justice is done and honour respected.

But we had the brave Robinhood fight a bad king because he was outlawed, or the shrewd Chanakya advising the king to act selfishly because he was insulted, or the cunning Shakuni scheming for power to his own family. (Do I even have to delve into the Mahabaratha?). Hell, even Chandrakanta was quite a sensation back then, in the same light. The similarity I find, sadly, in real life, is that we are just the same: a power hungry, egotistical, name dropping people.

Another such fable that rankles pretty close to my heart is ‘Game of Thrones’. My heart cried for Daenerys Targaryen in the first season, when she came out of her husband’s pyre, naked, with three live dragons on her shoulders, a heart full of love for her dead husband’s tribe, and a mind full of vengeance for the people who killed her father. And that made me wait for the next season.

And then, I have watched most of the second season (including the OST on a loop), and what struck me was the incorrigible parallel to the political scenario that pretty much smacks of the current scene in our own country.

Mind you, GoT is a very political drama, one that you would want to watch unaffected on your comfortable bean bag, but would puke if it was really happening to you.

But, it IS happening to you, hence the title.

For starters, it has everything that is there currently in Indian Politics: Corruption, Nepotism, Dynastic (and also, misplaced) Loyalty, Deceit, Sincere love, Lost cause, Abandonment, Commitment, Dedication, Foxily cunning people, Guile, and above all, Sex and nudity so brazen, that we take it as a part of their everyday lives. (Need I remind you all of certain tapes, of some of our own leaders).

I would love to draw similarities between the characters in the series and our own current political drama, but that would be too bloody complex, because, as I see it, it is a mix and match, a kaleidoscope of thoughts, feelings and intentions which cuts across the political horizon of our times.

But, nevertheless, I will touch upon them, briefly, because, this blog is about Robb Stark.

I can liken Varun Gandhi to Theon Greyjoy, supposed son of a deposed king, and is keen on seeking his rightful position, but stupidly so.

Or I could compare a Rahul Gandhi to King Joffrey, who got the throne by blood right, but threw it away due to stupid strategies and much more.

Or I could say that the imp, Tyrion Lannister, was none other than Robert Vadra, close to the power structure, but genealogically short statured, that when he said he will fight for a seat, he was shunned.

Maybe, I could say that Catylyn Stark was Jagan’s mother, Vijayamma, who would not tire to criss cross the country to canvass for her son, who in the GoT theme, was Robb Stark. (This does not mean that I hold Jagan Reddy to be Robb Start, the former is a very very far cry, you will realise that in time).

The more you watch the series, the more you will find every character to be enmeshed with the current political plague.

I will not comment on the BJP, because, as GoT says, they are yet to get their sigil right. Till then, they are just kitchen goose.

Brings me back to Robb Stark.

Born to a Lord, brother to a kid who gets kicked out of a tall rise because he saw something he ought not to, brother to a sister who is forced to marry and obey a sadist king, and to another who had to dress as a boy to avoid persecution, and might I add, the only hope for a mother who wants to see her children safe. One who waged war, not to conquer, but just to get his family back. One who wanted Winterfell, to just survive the oncoming long winter.

That brings us to the pertinent question: Who is our own Robb Stark? Who will fight for us?

Who do we believe will deliver us from this mess?

A mess that ranges from policy paralysis to national embarrassment. From fiscal policy to Olympic nominations.

One that started with the best of our minds’ migrating to greener and freer fields of the west, (rather than being embroiled in a stupid entrance exam issues) and ending with the best of our corporates focussing on out-of-india markets to deliver shareholder value. In a time when the rupee has been prostituted with, and our own self-image savagely ravaged like a Delhi woman’s.

Who is our Robb Stark?

Robb Stark, in Game of Thrones, set out to avenge his father’s unjust killing and the persecution of his people.

Who will avenge the killing of our ambition? Or our dream of becoming the greatest nation in the world. Pray tell me, why should China take that honour away, at a time when we have half the more population well versed in English than theirs? Why?

Are we a collaboration of idiots?

Robb Stark led the front against the Lannisters, putting his own family at grave danger, because he believed he was fighting for his people, and undoing injustice.

And we cannot, because we are cowards? Retards?

We, as a people, need hope in these dire times, or at the very least a semblance of one. And I do not care if it comes from Narendra Modi, as long as it comes. Lest I side with some of my friends who say that the only way to go forward is the “Emergency” way. Hey, they say, China has bought half of America, no matter what their internal policy is.

I can only say, please, Robb Stark, show us a way out.

If that is beaten, then it is nothing short of the death of a democracy, an invitation for us to bring forth the wreaths and fanciful speeches, praising our own unworthy successes.

I want an Indian Robb Stark, one who can brave all winters, and say, ‘Brothers and sisters, we will tide these bad times, and we shall overcome’.

Till then, Dear Mr PM, and Ms Remote Control, please, don’t count on my vote.

Because, to be very simply put, I do not TRUST you.

Because, you are just not my Robb Stark.