New Delhi. The owner of the world-famous spice brand ‘MDH’, ‘Mahashay’ Dharmapala Gulati, breathed his last on Thursday morning at the age of 98. Monsieur Dharmapala Gulati was known as ‘MDH Uncle’, ‘Dadaji’, ‘Masala King’, and ‘King of Spices’. He was the owner and CEO of the spice brand ‘MDH’ (Mahasia di Hatti). Gulati, who migrated to India from Pakistan after partition, started his livelihood with the money and today he left his company with a turnover of more than 1000 crores and traveled from this world.

Born in Pakistan
Gulati, popularly known as ‘Mahashay’, was born in 1919 in Sialkot, Pakistan. He was raised in Pakistan. In Sialkot, his father opened a spice shop named ‘Mahasiya di Hatti’ in the year 1919. His father used to sell spices here.

The family came to India after partition, bought Tanga with their father’s money
After partition in 1947, the family migrated to India. Initially, the Gulati family lived as a refugee in Amritsar. But later Dharampal Gulati shifted to Delhi. When Gulati arrived in Delhi with his brother-in-law, he bought Tanga with the money given to him by his father.

Small spice shop started in Karol Bagh
At the same time, when Gulati felt that his business was not doing well, he decided to open a small shop and restart his family business selling spices in Karol Bagh (a popular market located in central Delhi). did. Slowly the business got underway and they started benefiting as well.

In 1959 the MDH company was laid.
Subsequently, in 1953, Gulati rented a shop in Chandni Chowk, named ‘Mahasia di Hatti’ (MDH), and started selling spices here too. At the same time, Gulati later launched the MDH company officially. Dharampal Gulati founded the MDH Company in 1959. For this, he bought land in Kirti Nagar and set up a manufacturing unit.

15 factories across the country
Trade flourished not only in India but Gulati also became a distributor and exporter of spices. Currently, MDH spices manufacture about 50 different types of spices. The company has 15 factories across the country and sells its products worldwide.

MDH spices are exported to various parts of the world, including countries such as the UK, Europe, UAE, Canada. Gulati became the highest-paid FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) CEO in India in 2017.

Used to promote the company himself
The MDH company claims to occupy 80 percent of the market in North India. Dharmapala Gulati used to promote his products on his own. Often you have seen him telling about his spices on TV. He was considered to be the oldest ad star in the world. People all over the country know him as ‘MDH Uncle’.

Dharmapala Gulati was studied up to fifth
Dharampal Gulati studied only up to the fifth grade. He did not go to school for further education. Dharampal Gulati may not have much book knowledge, but big businessmen considered him to be the iron in the business sector.

90 percent of the salary was donated
Dharampal Gulati is said to have donated 90 percent of his salary. He once said that my motivation to work is honestly in the quality of the product sold at affordable prices and about 90 percent of my salary goes to a charity.

Hospitals and schools for the poor
There is also a charitable trust named after Gulati’s father, who runs a 250-bed hospital for slum dwellers. It also runs four schools for the poor. Sources said that he received Rs 25 crore in-hand salary in 2018.

Used to take all the decisions of the company itself
Despite his age, Dharmapala Gulati used to take all major business decisions. He considered three aspects to be extremely important for his company and product, including honest work, quality products, and affordable prices. Gulati was the owner of about 80 percent stake in the company. He regularly visited his factory and market to ensure that things were going well.

Padmabhushan award was received last year
In 2019, Dharampal Gulati was among 112 distinguished people who were awarded the Padma Awards. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan by President Ram Nath Kovind last year for his outstanding contribution to business and industry.