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Dharampal Gulati

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.

Dharampal Gulati
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati Padma Bhushan.jpg
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
OccupationFounder and CEO of MDH
AwardsPadma Bhushan (2019)

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. https://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/newsblogs/latest-daily-news-and-updates-december-3/amp_liveblog/79539529.cms. Retrieved 3 December 2020. 
  2. ↑ English Translation of "महाशय" (in en). Collins Hindi–English Dictionary.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Malviya, Sagar (17 January 2017). "FMCG sector's highest paid CEO is a 94-year-old school drop-out". The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/fmcg/fmcgs-highest-paid-ceo-is-a-94-year-old-school-drop-out/articleshow/56608104.cms. Retrieved 1 March 2019. 
  4. ↑ The Spice King and Founder of MDH: A Journey of Grit, Courage and Determination (12 February 2018). Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Mahashay Dharampal Gulati: How A Horse-cart Driver Became India's Spice King With MDH (in en). Forbes India. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  6. ↑ "MDH owner Mahashay Dharampal Gulati passes away at 98". The Economic Times. 3 December 2020. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/mdh-owner-mahashay-dharampal-gulati-passes-away-at-98/articleshow/79540664.cms. Retrieved 3 December 2020. 
  7. ↑ PTI (3 December 2020). "Dharampal Gulati death: Mahashay Dharampal Gulati of MDH Masala passes away at 99" (in en). The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mahashay-dharampal-gulati-of-mdh-spices-passes-away-at-98/articleshow/79540448.cms. Retrieved 3 December 2020. 
  8. ↑ "MDH Owner 'Mahashay' Dharampal Gulati Passes Away at 98 Due to Cardiac Arrest" (in en). News18. 3 December 2020. https://www.news18.com/news/business/mdh-owner-mahashay-dharampal-gulati-passes-away-at-98-due-to-cardiac-arrest-3140468.html. 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 . https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/dharampal-gulati-from-a-refugee-to-indias-king-of-spices/articleshow/79548412.cms?from=mdr. Retrieved 2026-02-11. 
  10. ↑ Jain, Prateek. Innovative Marketing: 30 types of Marketing for Small & Medium Enterprises (in en) (2021-01-22)Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64869-948-1.
  11. ↑ Inspiring! MDH owner 'Mahashay' Dharampal Gulati still earns more than Godrej, ITC, HUL bosses (in en). Zee Business. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  12. ↑ MDH Masala Owner Mahashay Dharampal Gulati Conferred With Padma Bhushan (in en). LatestLY (2019-01-26). Retrieved 2026-02-11.
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