Episode #1: The Flowering of the Cactus - a podcast by The English Press Club

Recorded at a time when COVID-19 was yet unnamed, and was only beginning its journey; On 16 November, 2019, we decided to chronicle a wholly different type of journey, and talk to the man who started it all. In a first for the EPC, we present to you our podcast, with the first episode in the series - An interview with the founding editor of the Cactus Flower, Mr. R Sundaram! Delayed by quite a bit, mostly because of adverse recording conditions, a pandemic, a bout of deafness, and a certain VERY squeaky chair, we finally present to you, episode 1.

Sections:

(0:00:00) – Introduction.

(0:01:54) – A blooming in the desert; the conception of the Cactus Flower Magazine

(0:05:48) – CATs, Choms, ELAS, and the beginnings of The EPC

(0:12:14) – BITS, CF and the tides of time; revisiting both two decades later

(0:20:16) – Cactus Flower Construction 101

(0:29:43) – First year BoB and ELAS adventures

(0:37:06) – A lone Oasis surrounded by sands

(0:43:35) – “All grades are acceptable!” – CGPA and priorities

(0:49:06) – Origins and journeys; BITS’ voyage into the 80s

(0:59:43) – Towels and wingies

(1:01:43) – A controversial end

Further episodes of The EPC Podcast

Further podcasts by The English Press Club

Website of The English Press Club