Love Yourself, They Said — And I Did

How Agust D and BTS helped a village boy chase dreams, break limits, and find healing

Music Was Always My Map

Since I was a kid, I’ve always been a culture explorer. Especially in music. I grew up on Hindi and Marathi songs — my roots. But I didn’t stop there. By the time I turned ten, I was already vibing to songs from all over India — from Gujarati to Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi, Assamese, and even the melodic sounds of the Seven Sisters.

Music was therapy to me. Always has been. Even English pop had its place. I mean, who didn’t hum “Baby” by Justin Bieber back in the day?

But nothing prepared me for what happened next.

The Day I Met Agust D (Without Knowing It)

I had just finished my 10th standard. Summer break was ending. My heart? Not in a good place. First love. Last goodbye. Unspoken feelings. You know how that goes.

I needed something fresh. Something different. So I did what every music explorer does — I opened YouTube and searched “Asian music.”

And then I saw him.

A thumbnail of a guy wearing an old-style Korean hat, a scar across his face, standing like he owns the world. The vibe? Raw. Wild. Powerful. No second thoughts — I clicked.

A deep chant started. Words I didn’t understand. Then that beat dropped. And the guy started:

“Daechwita, Daechwita…”

I got goosebumps. My whole body was vibing without even understanding a single word. I didn’t know it then, but that was the moment Suga — Agust D — walked into my life.

When the Spark Became a Fire

Soon after, I started 11th. One hand holding college papers, the other holding this new spark Suga had lit inside me.

The explorer in me woke up again. I searched Agust D, found more tracks. Then somehow, BTS’s “Fake Love” showed up on my YouTube. I clicked it — casually. But then I paused.

“Wait… this guy looks familiar.”

I replayed it. Again. And again.

It hit me — one of the BTS members looked like Agust D. I googled: “Is Agust D and Suga the same?” Boom. Yes. Same guy.

That hit hard. The fierce solo rapper I had just met… was part of this group called BTS.

Agust D wasn’t just a one-man army — he was a piece of something even bigger. That moment felt like a door opening into a whole new world. And it was Suga who held my hand and led me in.

Welcome to the Universe

Taken By Me

College life started. New people, new places. But every evening, I was deep diving into BTS songs, Korean culture, K-dramas, even Korean history. It was exciting — and confusing. Coming from Indian culture, where we grow up with different beauty standards, values, emotions — it took time.

Like, here we see beard as manly, but there, clean-shaven is beauty. But I didn’t judge. I wasn’t comparing. I was exploring.

At first, I didn’t connect deeply with the lyrics. I only understood 50%. But when I started understanding their culture, their pain, their point of view — everything changed.

Suddenly, the lyrics hit deeper.

The Line That Lit a Fire in Me

There are so many powerful lines in BTS songs. But one line changed my life:

“Born in a ditch but rise up a dragon. That’s the way I live.” — Agust D, Daechwita

That line felt like mine. I come from a family where no one finished high school. I’m the first. I travel every day from village to city for college. Sometimes, I feel broken. Tired. Wanting to give up.

But when I hear that line, it fires me up again. Because I’m doing it. I’m breaking boundaries — not just for me, but for my family, for my future.

BTS gave me that strength. Jin, Yoongi, RM, J-Hope, V, Jimin, Jungkook — each of them gave me something.

But Agust D… he gave me my start. Our personalities? Kinda similar. Our pain? Feels familiar.

So yeah — he became my bias. With no doubt.

To the Real Armys… and the Toxic Ones

I’m an ARMY. Proudly. But I’ve seen two sides of this fandom.

There are true ARMYs — those who see BTS as inspiration, as humans, as idols with deep meaning. And then there are toxic fans — who treat BTS like gods, who forget they are humans too.

They treat them like boyfriends, like husbands — and okay, I get it, it’s love. But sometimes, they cross the line.

They forget reality. They forget that BTS keeps reminding us to love ourselves — not just love them.

Let’s give them space. Let them sleep at night. Because they carry the weight of millions of souls. That’s a heavy job.

If you’re truly an ARMY, remember: their message is not control. It’s healing. It’s not obsession. It’s inspiration.

Some Armies To Me

This Is Just My Beginning

I didn’t plan this. I didn’t expect it. But Agust D found me at my lowest. He showed me the path to love myself.

BTS? They’re not just stars. They’re guiding millions, including me.

This journey is mine. But if you’ve felt even one line of what I said… maybe it’s yours too.

Love yourself. Rise up like a dragon. And never forget the music that saved you.