Tuccho Ami ( the insignificant one) I first heard of Cactus from a senior of mine who was studying comparative literature at Jadavpur University way back in the mid 90's. He mentioned Cactus to prove that bangla rock bands from Kolkata were as good as the ones in Bangladesh. My first reaction was one of amazement, bangla rock band from Kolkata and named Cactus? Then I heard Holud Pakhi which a friend of mine sang at the college canteen... I was bowled over. My first live Cactus show was at the Presidency College ground and my love for Cactus grew, though at that time they were more of a cover band.... Then during post graduation I remember Holud Pakhi and Sei Tumi by LRB were like our anthem. By that time I had learned a few guitar chords and sang HP night and day and at every gathering. I remember a particular show I had been to where Anjan Dutta collaborated with Cactus and that's a show I will never forget... Cactus is 3 albums old now. I dare say that the album Tuccho Ami is a classic progressive rock album. I have introduced Cactus to quite a few non Bengali friends of mine who today swear by the seer energy, experimentation and the non conformity of the album. Cactus has turned 21 and over the last few days I have been reading comments about how Cactus cannot survive without Pota. My take on the whole issue is as follows. Pota no doubt brings a different dimension to Cactus with his uncanny unique voice and singing style, but a band is much bigger than any individual, no matter how talented he is. Cactus has survived 21 yrs and I have no doubt that they will rock many more years. Why sympathise with an individual who does not think about the band? Did he not know that there is a new album which is scheduled to be launched? did he not know that the 21st year was round the corner? I mean what sort of a rock musician will put aside music to participate in a purely commercial, made for the masses, regional adaptation of Big Boss? And why? For 15 days of spotlight? Some money? Wasn't rock music supposed to stand up against such trappings? Personally I have no sympathy for Pota. My money is on Sidhu and Baji and the rest of Cactus. They might have a new line-up but there is little doubt that the soul of Cactus is the same... If anything it has matured over the last 21 yrs. Just ask yourselves where is Poroshpathor, Abhilaasha and countless others who had come to the party in the late 90s? A Cactus survives against all odds, so will the band. Long live Cactus and bangla rock!