“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” NSS coordinator Divyansh Gupta hit the nail on the head by quoting Ronald Reagan. A short chap from Delhi (we all know how people judge Delhiites, don’t we?), he doesn’t exactly seem to be an inspiring and valorous leader, but then, people who manage a team of more than 300 people during one of the biggest fests of Asia, don’t care what others think about them. Their work does the job for them.

NSS, BITS Pilani is one of the largest teams ever to have functioned so harmoniously, resonated along with the fest, and struck a chord with students and visitors alike. Following the tradition of the past few Oases, NSS has decided to put up their ‘Concept Stall’ once more. Lauded by some as a ‘landmark idea that will change outlooks’ while dismissed by critiques as heavily clichéd, time will tell, how in the year of Gods and Men, NSS manages to make their presence felt. NGOs from Delhi and Jaipur are going to be in the loop for this one. Handicrafts and other hand-made articles made by the people the NGOs work with will be up for sale this Oasis. This has usually been a successful venture for NSS, and they raked in about 3,50,000 INR in revenue from just the sales last Oasis. Co-ordinators from NSS work with around 17 NGOs and, as a gesture of goodwill, arrange for transportation and overheads from their own pocket. While Oasis 2014 had a special guest – Kiran Bedi – as a visitor to deliver a guest lecture, (organised jointly with Nirmaan) and although no such event seems to be on the cards, they promise that this year’s program will be an even bigger success, and judging by the support they received during Junoon, it is very likely that their claim is justified. They have said that they are going to cut down on using decorations for their stall, and are instead going to focus on the work they do, thus doing their bit towards the environment too (along with antagonising the other stationery stalls).

A huge workforce comprising of more than a hundred first years, seventy second years, and a core team comprising of five ‘top brass’ third year students work before and during the fest to make this event a success. The biggest challenge during the fest, according to the management, is not a what-do-we-do-with-the-drunken-sailor kind of problem, but getting their volunteers to sit at the stall and work when the fest is going on. Their vital contribution is sure to make the fest a grand success.