The Oasis English Press sat down with Rishant Sharma, the newly bearded Coordinator of the Department of Informal Events (Informalz) to delve into their preparation for the fest.
Rishant explained that Informalz usually hosts fun, large-scale events during the fests. However, this year they were responsible for some of the more notable events, owing to the theme of the fest. He stated that in addition to hosting multiple events such as Casino Night; Treasure Hunt; Beg, Borrow, Steal; and Entertainment Quiz, the department would also be reviving a legacy event, Mr and Ms Oasis.
Rishant elucidated that Casino Night would be a two day event. Held in collaboration with Matrix, it would allow participants to delve into games like Blackjack, Poker, and Roulette. He added that this edition of the event would be on a much larger scale compared to its predecessors, mentioning an improved slot and cashier system.
He further revealed that Treasure Hunt would be a wide-reaching event wherein participants would compete in groups to solve perplexing puzzles and discover clues. Beg, Borrow, Steal would assess the participants’ creative interpretation as they scramble to obtain a list of items faster than their competitors. Entertainment Quiz would be a collaboration with ELAS and would feature questions on pop culture trivia. Talking about Mr and Ms Oasis, Rishant explained that it was a talent show where participants could showcase their creative efforts and personalities and be judged by the student body as a whole. To accommodate outstation attendees, the initial rounds for the event were now set to take place on Day 1 of the fest.
He shared that most of their preparation involved poker matches (referred to as ‘practice sessions’ by him), ideation discussions, and generally ‘messing around’. Moreover, he commented on a beard being an extremely crucial addition, as he saw great improvements in the work culture since its inception. Regarding the challenges they faced, Rishant highlighted that Mr and Ms Oasis received several throughout the course of its preparation. He noted the cause to primarily be the uncertainty regarding the occurrence of Oasis. The department also experienced budgeting issues but received ‘immense’ support from the StuCCA, he revealed.
Rishant emphasised his appreciation towards the members, particularly the new recruits. In stark contrast to previous years, Rishant mentioned that he does not have at least 20 people in the recruitment pipeline. He was confident that the current workforce had already adapted to the long hours and demands of the department. Though it could not be verified whether their frequent ANC trips were a part of these long hours.
Rishant stated that his experience as Coordinator had been extremely fulfilling and that the Bhagavad Gita course had greatly helped him in reinforcing his patience. He further enunciated being awake early in the morning to be a key lesson taught in the course and has followed this religiously since by sleeping at 8 AM everyday.
On a concluding note, Rishant stated that Informalz had greatly evolved over the years by partaking in events more central to the fest. He further encouraged the BITSians to attend all their events, and assured them that ‘it is not gambling’.