From the Shadows to the Sky—Reclaiming Our Divine Strength

Language shapes reality-A call to Cockroach mentality among youth

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

The words we use to define ourselves do not just reflect our current state; they build our future architecture. Lately, a troubling trend of hyper-cynical self-deprecation has taken root in modern discourse. Individuals, overwhelmed by external chaos, have begun referring to themselves as "cockroaches." While intended as a gritty nod to resilience, this label carries a toxic undertone. It is a critical warning we must heed: when you view yourself as a pest, you doom yourself to live in the dark. 

Calling oneself a cockroach is a severe misinterpretation of humility. Survival is not the ultimate human goal. Cockroaches scurry in shadows, feed on scraps, and flee from the light. They react blindly to external threats. Adopting this identity is a form of psychological self-sabotage. It suggests that your only purpose is to endure misery rather than overcome it. This is a surrender of your divine potential to a cage of comfort in mediocrity. 

We must urgently reject this narrative and strive for a higher ideal: the Hanuman mindset. In tradition, Hanuman represents the pinnacle of boundless strength, unwavering devotion, and absolute mental focus. His story contains a profound human truth: he famously forgot his own immense powers, remembering his ability to leap across oceans only when reminded of his higher purpose.

Once awakened, nothing could distract him. This unwavering focus is precisely what we lack today. If we react like insects, we will scatter in panic. But if we embody Hanuman, we realize that external storms cannot shake an internal anchor. Hanuman did not stop to argue with obstacles; he flew over them. When mountains stood in his way, he carried them. True humility is not pretending to be small, dirty, and powerless. 

True humility is possessing the power to shift landscapes, yet keeping your mind entirely fixed on your duty. First, drop degrading labels immediately. Stop using self-destructive humor that erodes self-worth. Second, step out of the shadows. Stop hiding your talents out of fear of a broken world. Finally, lock your vision onto a noble purpose. The choice before us is stark. 

We can choose to remain in the dirt, scattering every time the environment turns hostile. Or, we can choose to lock our focus, face our oceans of doubt, and leap toward greatness. Whatever bad happens around you, look upward, lock your gaze, and live like Hanuman.

- Dr.  C. Rangarajan

The author is the Chief Pujari of the Chilkur Balaji Temple