Dharampal Gulati

Dharampal Gulati
Gulati receiving the Padma Bhushan from Indian President Ramnath Kovind, 2019
Born(1923-03-27)27 March 1923
Sialkot, Punjab Province, British India
Died3 December 2020(2020-12-03) (aged 97)[1]
New Delhi, India
Occupation(s)Founder and CEO of MDH
AwardsPadma Bhushan (2019)

Dharam Pal Gulati (27 March 1923 – 3 December 2020), also known as Mahashay Dharampal Gulati,[a] was an Indian businessman, and founder and CEO of MDH (Mahashian Di Hatti; transl.  gentleman's shop),[3][4] an Indian spice company. He was known as the 'spice-king'.[5] He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2019. He was known for being the founder and CEO of MDH.

Gulati died on 3 December 2020 at a hospital in Delhi of a cardiac arrest at the age of 97.[6][7][8]

Life

Gulati was born in Sialkot. His father owned a spice shop called Mahashian Di Hatti.[3] In 1947, during the Partition of India, his family moved to India. They first stayed in a refugee camp in Amritsar and later moved to New Delhi.[5] To earn money, Gulati drove a tonga (horse carriage).[5] Later, he opened a small shop.[9]

In 1958, he reopened his father’s spice shop in Karol Bagh, New Delhi.[5] He later opened another shop in Chandni Chowk. In 1959, he started a spice factory in Kirti Nagar, New Delhi.[5][3] At a time when many people in India ground spices at home, Gulati began selling ready-made ground spices.[5] His company was registered as MDH in 1965.[5]

MDH grew into a large company with many factories across India. Gulati appeared in the company’s advertisements and on spice packages.[5][10]

Charity

Gulati supported education and health care. He founded 20 schools and hospitals in New Delhi.[5][11]

In 2019, he received the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards.[12]

Notes

  1. ↑ Mahashay is an Indian honorific meaning sir/gentleman.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Mahashay Dharmpal passes on DIED away at 98". The Economic Times. 4 December 2020. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "English Translation of "महाशय"". Collins Hindi–English Dictionary.
  3. 1 2 3 Malviya, Sagar (17 January 2017). "FMCG sector's highest paid CEO is a 94-year-old school drop-out". The Economic Times. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  4. ↑ "The Spice King and Founder of MDH: A Journey of Grit, Courage and Determination". 12 February 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Mahashay Dharampal Gulati: How A Horse-cart Driver Became India's Spice King With MDH". Forbes India. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  6. ↑ "MDH owner Mahashay Dharampal Gulati passes away at 98". The Economic Times. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  7. ↑ PTI (3 December 2020). "Dharampal Gulati death: Mahashay Dharampal Gulati of MDH Masala passes away at 99". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  8. ↑ "MDH Owner 'Mahashay' Dharampal Gulati Passes Away at 98 Due to Cardiac Arrest". News18. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "Dharampal Gulati: From a 'refugee' to India's 'king of spices'". The Economic Times. 2020-12-03. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  10. ↑ Jain, Prateek (2021-01-22). Innovative Marketing: 30 types of Marketing for Small & Medium Enterprises. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64869-948-1.
  11. ↑ "Inspiring! MDH owner 'Mahashay' Dharampal Gulati still earns more than Godrej, ITC, HUL bosses". Zee Business. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  12. ↑ "MDH Masala Owner Mahashay Dharampal Gulati Conferred With Padma Bhushan". LatestLY. 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2026-02-11.


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