One of the newer food outlets on campus, Malviya Redi is strategically placed in front of the laundromat, on the porch of Malviya Bhawan. The owner of the redi, Suresh Kumar, who is in his mid-fifties, has been feeding generations of BITSians for the last two decades. In his service of BITSian junta, he has experienced both bitter and sweet times.

 Before the redi business, he worked at a far-off general store in Pilani that did not pay enough to make ends meet. Hence, he started his business with the ANC Redi, which was later shut down due to orders from the Institution. However, catering to the demands of the students, he subsequently opened the Mal-Ex Redi and remained its owner for two years. With financial help from the institution, the Mal Redi shack was built at the start of this semester, and the redi became operational.

 The specialties of the Mal Redi are its kulchas and frankies. Drinks such as shikanji and khus are served in larger quantities than in the other redis. It is no coincidence that one can find a similarity in taste to the items served at CVR Redi. The two owners had jointly operated the ANC Redi while it was open.

 The owner’s son, Jogendar Singh, works along with him in the evenings. He studies B.Sc. in a local college on a merit scholarship. Apart from his income from the redi, his joint family is supported by the income from his brother, who along with his three daughters, lives with Suresh.

In addition to running the family, Mr. Suresh regularly spends his profits in worship and feeding poor people. “Students come to me in large numbers during midsem and compre. Usually, they are hungry after studying. My sole purpose is to keep them fed”, he says.