As Oasis ’26 approaches, the Oasis English Press (OEP) sat down with Anchor’s External Affairs Coordinator, Shikhar Salgarkar, to understand their preparations for the fest. Anchor is the Gender and Sexuality Cell for BITS Pilani’s Pilani campus, whose aim is to provide a safe space for queer individuals and to promote LGBTQ+ visibility on campus. From the staple pride march to the Anchor stall, Shikhar shared exactly what is brewing this Oasis.
He explained that Anchor was known for its flagship Pride March event during fests, starting at the Krishna parking and winding down the NAB roads, and then concluded with a heartfelt speech at Rotunda. He added that it had been designed to be a loud and unapologetic declaration of visibility.
For everyone browsing their stall this year, the usual crowd favourites—which included brand new queer-friendly merchandise, nail painting, and the interactive Wall of Happiness—would be getting a new companion. Shikhar explained that Anchor would introduce tarot card readings to their lineup, which would be overseen by new recruits who were passionate about the craft. With the new merch and events, the club strived to balance quirkiness and community, hoping to bring happiness and joy to everyone.
Shikhar talked about how supporting this new lineup required a large shift behind the scenes. He said that this year, Anchor was operating on a greater scale than ever before, boasting unprecedented growth and a larger, more active, workforce. However, festival prep isn’t truly prep without any chaos. According to Shikhar, the days leading up to the midsemester examinations, and even after, had been a meticulous blur of double-checking deadlines.
Shikhar expressed that security and safety are the club’s number one priorities, especially since there have been past challenges compromising them. He brought up instances of vandalism on their stall from previous years, emphasising that the team had learnt hard lessons. Now, they ensured to take complete care by closely overseeing the stall, having a member of the club standing guard there at all times. They also had an immediate line to campus authorities and securities in case things went wrong.
On a parting note, Shikhar stated that Anchor wasn’t just a club, it was a safe space for everyone. He emphasised that whether you’re queer or an ally, navigating campus life or just looking for a place to belong, Anchor was always only one message away.