Split Wide Open ..

After years of protests and determination shown by the people, finally the far fetched dream seems to come to a reality. Indian National Congress declared that a separate state of Telangana will come into existence within 5 or 6 months from now. The proposed new state corresponds to the Telugu-speaking portions of the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad.

The decision looked so causal as if it was decided by a coin toss. Thank goodness it came as Tails and not heads otherwise Headangana would have been weird. Thus Telangana was born. Telangana primarily consists of the districts north of the original Andhra Pradesh and dwells the capital Hyderabad. People have shown all sorts of agitations: Against formation of Telangana, against division of Andhra Pradesh, against loss of assets and even against the degrading quality of biryani in the top restaurants in Banjara Hills area. Top leaders have already showed their opposition with withdrawals from running the state government and even from Rajya Sabha. The main point of backing their opposition is that the new state will not be developed and will take a lot of time to be right up there. Numerous other points follow. But there are other things at stake as well.

Losing out on the typical Hyderabadi biryani is too much. I for one will go on strike too if I am deprived of all the Deccani eateries around. As for Charminar, I dont think will be much of a problem. Its simple, build eight minars or get ready to lose out on tourism money. The big question for this silver screen savy country is where will Tollywood move. The second biggest film industry after Bollywood is divided as to where to shift its loyalty. While majority of the studios are in Telangana but control of audience might be more in Andhra Pradesh or the future Seemandhra. New releases might come into jeopardy with big money at stake.

The geography plays a cruel game on Seemandhra. Take out Telangana and the state looks like the male reproductive organ. Now we get it that when the division happened who the Tom was and who became the Dick. Harry felt left out maybe he will stage a strike or revolt like the numerous groups and sects occupying Seemandhra. 

Telengana is not an isolated incidence. Many follow up similar cases have arised. Gorkhaland from West Bengal, Harit Pradesh from UP, Bodoland from Assam and Vidarbha from Maharashtra are just the ones top of peoples minds. 

Gorkhaland is something whch the residents of Darjeeling and surrounding areas want a separate state of their own for better running of affairs and protect Gorkha identity. The movement longs back as old as 1907 but could not gain momentum to explore the issue. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is looking for prompt solutions but face opposition from in rule Trinamool Congress. Sudden movement in Telangana will give impetus to this cause as well. How often do you see only one fast food stall run in pomp ? The neighbouring stalls do quick business as well with nearly the same recipe. Get the point.

Bodoland is a demand of a similar movement to protect identity of Bodos which has been started in 1987 proclaiming 32 tribal belts and blocks on northen Bramhaputra as their own wonderland. Bodoland Peoples front is the body at the helm but face similar opposition as others. Here the main point is that once Bodoland is created, will the attrocities of various Bodo terror outfits stop ?

Vidarbha is already separated on cricketing grounds from Maharashatra and now might even look to go its separate ways on the politicial front. People of Vidarbha want a place of their own where no one is neglected and not stay in the shadows of political bigwigs running the state out of Mumbai. But this is not as easy as it sounds. Congress will hinder any advances for a separate Vidarbha simply for the fact that they need Vidarbha and their leaders for a sound majority and belittle NCP as well as opposition. As for opposition, BJP is pro Vidarbha but is that a mere opposition pre election gimmick, only time will tell. One cannot however dispute the fact that there is not enough leadership to drive the Vidarbha independence movement simply for the fact that it wont have stayed untouched for 40 years now. How many laymen have heard Vidarbha apart from farmer suicides and Umesh Yadav ?? More than political parties, individuals who genuinely feel for the cause should come together and drive it otherwise it will just be a Hollywood movie in Indian theatres .. talked about in the first week, wiped off in the second.

We all have learnt it one way or the other that sequels never work. Be it KBC or even MMS government. Only debarment to it being Tushar Kapoor and that was simply cause he was mute and the Eehhs and Ohhs were more funny than words. On a high level Telanagana was a hit with its motive but the other so called sequels around the country will have a tall order to go against. Maybe we can request Rohit Shetty to direct this cause, forget independence maybe we might see a couple of cars in the air and go back home with over 100 crores.

India's Version of Game of Thrones

When George Martin wrote his epic 'A Song of Fire & Ice' little did he know that several miles away, a country named India bears such close resemblances with respect to its political scenario. Our so called political bigwigs are actually fighting this battle to be one up over each other and claim the ultimate crown - The Power at the centre. The series pretty much shows a similar power struggle among 7 families for the Throne of Westeros.

Let us consider Mayawati first. Lady driven by ambition to be the best and aided by the learnings of her guide Kanshiram. She had made Uttar Pradesh her own before the father-son Yadav duo took over. When we draw parallels the only name which comes to my mind is Daenerys Targaryen with the able Ser Jorah by her side. Daenerys is a sharp woman with a blend of beauty and fighting skills but our Daenerys is much more than that. Who needs beauty when you can get things done with power and a following so big. Daenerys slowly and steadily increased her forces with acquisition but for Mayawati it wasnt difficult at all. Everyone aceepted her as the queen upon the elephant if not the dragons. Move aside the heart of stallion, this queen has taken her oath balancing elephants in one hand and opposition in the other.

Then we comes to Gandhis. Cersei Lannister & Joffrey Baratheon are splitting but slightly late born Indianized part Italian versions of Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi. The way of birth and other complications aside, the parallelism in amount of pampering in both cases sends a set of train rails to shame. One is a Justin Bieber look alike while other is as effective to the country's economy as Justin Bieber to US. As for both the moms, it was a close call as to who will win the hypothetical 'Make Son as Puppet to Rule the World' award at Fiction meet Life Awards. Similarities dont end here. While Lannisters are firmly behind this Baratheon Congress acts as Lannisters for the Gandhis.

Another strong female character is Catelyn Stark who after husband Ned's death is on her own and leads his children to the pursuit of glory, the Throne. She reminds me so much of Jayalalitha. A lady all set to take it all and the Ned-esque persona in her life was M. G. Ramachandran. The only differnece is in the motto here. While the Starks were focussed on the winter, here its 'Adipose is coming'. Its also the Adipose of power. Its often said that behind a successful man, there is a successful woman but behind this woman success, her cabinet, few hundred party workers and half of Tamil Nadu can successfully be camouflaged. While Cat had few bannermen by her feet owing to her power, Jayalalitha had the Indian version of Cyclops - Karunanidhi - always getting trounced one way or the other.

Maharashtra is an important state in the Indian political scenario. What picture I get is that its full of different personalities together making an impact. What intrigues me more is that whatever different agendas they have , all come together when the regional territories are invaded by outsiders. Night's Watch anyone ? Afterall they guard the wall from Night Walkers. Needless to say Lord Commander Mormont has to be someone who has politics in his veins in this analogy here. Lord Sharad Pawar is pretty much at the helm of Maharashtra's Watch at the Central throne. The new boy and the future hero Jon Snow, who better than Raj Thackerey. Here as well about the politics at the centre, You know nothing Jon Snow !!

Narendra Modi, the man who is virtually assigned the job to transform India. Tyrion Lannister, the man who is virtually assigned the job to make everything better in the conquest of Westeros. Both men are right in their own way, show might at times while other times let their smartness do the talking. Both faced severe criticism and people actually try to bring them down. The only difference is that whereas one is half a man, the other just by his presence makes a man becomes half his self.

Lastly our esteemed prime ministed Manmohan Singh can only be King Robert Baratheon. He doesnt have a say when the series goes in full swing because he is slain. Our King doesnt have a say anyways. Just one similarity and I rest my case.

P.S: Yours truly is actually tempted to map several more characters but keeping in mind the viewers and encoruragement to their curiosity, I am taking a pause. So think all possible analogies and reply. Thanks !!