For generations of BITSians, the true heartbeat of the campus has not been in the lecture rooms, but at the bustling counters of SkyLab under the welcoming eyes of Mr Kamal Kapoor, affectionately known as ‘Pappu ji’. Pappu ji’s father came to India from Pakistan during Partition and settled in Pilani. After completing his education, his father initially worked at the Birla Museum and then opened a shop in C’Not around 1965. Currently, two of Pappu ji’s brothers operate individual shops at C’Not — Kapoor’s and the famous Kamal’s. He also has three sons – one lives in London, one in Paris, and one here in Pilani, helping him run SkyLab.

Pappu ji recalled that the former Director coined the name SkyLab after NASA’s SkyLab fell in the Indian Ocean in 1979 — explaining the eatery’s satellite-like architecture. When SkyLab first opened, Pappu ji and his father faced a few issues setting up shop; something,he explained, was natural for any new business. Over time, though, things have gotten easier.  They started with only three items — chai, shikanji and patties, and have added new items to the menu every semester since. He explained that they tend to receive the highest footfall during snaps. He added that the COVID lockdown had been a major setback —  they had to shut down for a few months, and it took time for footfall to return to pre-COVID levels.  

Before the concept of UPI existed, students opened credit accounts at SkyLab, which ran on trust between the students and Pappu Ji. He re-introduced an old BITSIAN lingo — ‘bm’, short  for ‘baad-me’, which the students would say to Pappu ji to have the expenses added to their running tabs. 

He mentioned that it delighted him when the alumni and tourists who visited the campus on weekends still made a point to visit SkyLab. Pappu ji proudly added that he continues to share a close bond with BITS alumni and frequently gets invited to the BITSAA Global Meets (BGM). Notably, he recently gifted the Director, Dr Sudhir Kumar Barai, a package of SkyChai — an instant tea premix brand created by his sons. He mentioned that the customers are mainly BITS alums who are reminded of the SkyLab chai.

From GD Birla’s car at the entrance to the refreshing cold Shikanji, SkyLab is one of the most peaceful hangout spots on campus. In Pappu ji’s belief, it is a preferred destination for both professors and alums largely due to his own affectionate and amiable nature. He mentioned that during the Pilani winters, students love coming to SkyLab to bask in the sun.

Looking back, he reckoned that BITS has not changed all that much through the years — except that a large crowd has come and gone, and Oasis used to be way grander. Reflecting on his 45 years at BITS, his gratitude is clear: not a single student had ever misbehaved with him, and everyone had always treated him with utmost honesty and respect.