With Oasis ‘24 being just a few days away, the Oasis English Press sat down with Krteyu Pillai, the Coordinator for the Department of Stage Controls (Backstage), to understand the department’s workings in the fest.

Krteyu explained that most of their work took place behind the scenes, and that their main job was to ensure a smooth flow of events for the audience. For Oasis, the department handled the Inauguration (Inaug) on Day Zero. This included working on the script in close collaboration with the Department of Controls, the Department of Sponsorship and Marketing, and the Department of Visual Media. They also worked on some of the production events that took place on campus.

Talking about the events they organised, he explained that after the pandemic, the department decided to revitalise its legacy by restarting some of the events they used to conduct. This began in Oasis ‘23, when BLAB (BITS Language Aptitude Battle) made its return after three years. This year, BLAB would be organised again, along with a new event called BITS Jeopardy, which is a unique take on quizzing based on the namesake game show format. Krteyu mentioned that they would incorporate this year’s theme by keeping a final round for Jeopardy which would involve participants betting their points for higher stakes, similar to the actual game show. Additionally, topics for BLAB might be based on themes like casinos and poker, in alignment with the theme.

Regarding preparations, Krteyu mentioned that they began around two months before the actual fest. During the initial meetings, discussions took place about potential events. As the fest comes closer, the workload ramps up and the preparations kick into full swing.

Krteyu explained that major events like Inaug are impossible to execute without collaboration with all the major departments and clubs. He noted that within Backstage itself, a structure had been established to ensure smooth conduct and coordination. Members from each year had specific roles and tasks which they were expected to carry out.

When asked about his experience as a Coordinator, Krteyu mentioned that it was fulfilling to see members who had been recruited by him take charge and actively work for the fest. He jokingly added that as Coordinator, there were way too many Google Forms he had to fill in order to get all the work done. On an ending note, Krteyu urged everyone to be a part of Oasis, participate in BLAB and Jeopardy, and have as much fun as possible.