MDH Owner Dharmpal Gulati

MDH owner Dharmpal Gulati was born in 1923 in Sialkot (then part of undivided India). His father, Mahashay Chunnilal, ran a small spice shop called Mahashian Di Hatti in the city. It was popularly known as Deggi mirch Wale. Gulati, who was ten years old, dropped out of school to start a business. He sold mirrors and manufactured soaps, and did other odd jobs including carpentry and cloth business. Mahashay, also known as "Masala King", had created a niche for himself and his spices in India and across the globe. Mahashay Dharampal Gulati's death was due to a cardiac arrest on the 3rd of December 2020.

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Early Life of MDH Owner Dharmpal Gulati

Mahashay Dharampal was born to a Hindu family in Sialkot, Pakistan, on 27 March 1923. His father, Chuni Lal, who sold spices in a small shop in 1919, was known as "Mahashian Di Hatti" (literally translating as the respected man's shop).

He left school in 1933 before he could complete 5th grade. He started a small business selling looking mirrors with his father. Later, he opened a soap business, carpentry business, cloth merchant, hardware, and rice trading business. These petty ventures did not last long, and he joined his father again in his parent's business, i.e. Spices under Mahashian Di Hatti, also known as the 'Deggi Mirchwale' people.

Dharampal was 15 years old when he tried many odd jobs, from sewing to being a mechanic. But he couldn't sustain any of them.

His father eventually made him sit in his shop, and he began to learn how to grind pepper. He was determined to grow his family's spice company after this short stint.

Impact of Partition

He moved to India after the partition. He initially stayed in Amritsar but later moved to Delhi with Rs1500. He was a horse-cart puller in Amritsar before opening a spice shop at Karol Bagh on Ajmal Khan Road Delhi. They managed to reestablish Mahashian Di Hatti thanks to their tireless efforts. Today, they are India's top spice manufacturers and own more than 15 factories. MDH is very well-known because it has offices overseas, including in Dubai and London. MDH sells around 62 products. Three products among them, Chana Masala, Chat Masala, and Deggi mirch, are very popular and account for 80% of the north Indian market.|

How did it Start?

In the beginning, he preferred to outsource the powdering of Haldi to a contractor. He was not satisfied with the quality of Haldi (as contractors used the spice to make it taste bad), so he started his own factory in 1959, Mahashian Di Hatti Private Limited (MDH). Dharampal Ji soon had Satpal, his younger brother, join him. Every evening they would sit down together to discuss the profitability of the store and to plan for the future. Dharampal Ji quickly made a name for himself as he was awarded the title of 'Deggi Mirch Wale'

The Growth Phase

Mr. Dharampal Gulati realized that the speed at which spices were being sold was what was driving his success. This was an untapped niche in the time period. He later rented another shop in Chandni Chowk and a plot in Kirti Nagar in 1959 to start his factory. This was Mashian Di Hatti (MDH), the father's legacy.

Mahashayji's vision, perseverance, and dedication to business led to great heights that have inspired many others. Few people realize the extent of Mahashayji's hard work and success in building the superbrand MDH. MDH owner Dharmpal Gulati is told that he didn't know the secret to his great success. He simply followed the traditional principle of honouring his commitments and providing quality products to his customers. His dedication to the community and tireless activities are evident in all spheres. He strived for this and rose above the boundaries of religions and community to serve humanity, no matter the cause. This personality of his made him really successful in the business of spices. 

Charity Work by Dharampal

He established Mata Chanan Devi Hospital in Janakpuri (New Delhi) in 1984 in memory of his mother. It has grown to a 300-bed super-specialty hospital.

In November 1975, a 10-bed eye hospital was opened at Arya Samaj in Subhash Nagar, New Delhi. A 20-bed hospital was then established in Janakpuri in New Delhi in January 1984 to honour Mata Chanan Devi's memory. This super-specialty hospital has 300 beds and occupies approximately 5 acres. It also offers MRI, CT Scans, Heart Wing, NeuroSciences, and IVF. This hospital is the best in West Delhi, as it is the only one of its kind. Mahashay Ji himself regularly visits the hospital and participates actively in its management, despite his busy schedules. Poor people receive free treatment in the hospital and free medical aid for a million rupees each year.

Mr. Dharampal Gulati also gave his blessings to children by creating a school that would provide quality education for the next generation. He was associated with many educational institutions, including Mahashay Chunnilal Saraswati Shishu Mandir MDH International School. They are a testament to harmonious co-existence and hold the distinction of being exemplary. He is the only person to have established over 20 schools for the benefit of society and the poor.

Padma Bhushan to Mahashay Dharampal Gulati

He established Mata Chanan Devi Hospital in Janakpuri (New Delhi) in 1984 in memory of his mother. It has grown to a 300-bed super-specialty hospital.

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati’s death occurred recently, on December 3, 2020, at Mata Chanan Devi Hospital, Delhi, due to a cardiac arrest. It was a sad day for India, and all over the country, people mourned. The owner of MDH Dharampal Gulati’s age was 97 when he breathed his last.

Although Gulati passed away, his legacy is still alive, and the success story of Dharampal Gulati inspires the younger generation.

Did you Know?

Dharmpal Gulati is known as one of the most successful and richest CEOs of India. His salary was 21 crores in the year 2017.