Padma Bhushan awardee and MDH owner 'Mahashay' Dharampal Gulati remained the most recognisable face of the popular spice brand even in his late years.
The owner of the popular spice brand Mahashian Di Hatti or MDH, 'Mahashay' Dharampal Gulati, passed away early morning on December 3. Gulati was admitted to the Mata Chanan Devi Hospital in Delhi recently. He stayed the CEO of the company even in his late years. When most brands go to celebrities for endorsements, Gulati remained the most recognisable model and face of MDH.
Born in Sialkot, he started a spice shop in Delhi, where he later built his spice empire. Conferred with the Padma Bhushan in 2019, Gulati stayed involved in the business.
Check out these pictures for the inspiring life story of Mahashayji.
1. 'Mahashayji' face of MDH
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Fondly known as 'Mahashayji' or 'Dadaji', Gulati has been the face of the spice brand, appearing in many of its advertisements over the years. His smiling old face made him a known figure among families across the country. In the age of celebrity endorsements, Mahashayji stayed as popular as ever.
2. From Sialkot to Delhi
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Born in 1923 in Sialkot (now in Pakistan), Gulati went on to head one of India's top manufacturer of spices. Gulati migrated to India with his family after the partition in 1947. His family spent some time in Amritsar, before moving to Delhi. (Image: MDHspices.com)
3. MDH Spices
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Later, he went on to purchase land at Kirti Nagar where he started his factory in 1959 and began his popular enterprise, Mahashian Di Hatti Limited. Even though he had to drop out of school after fifth grade, he built a reputable name in the spice business through his determination.
4. Awarded Padma Bhushan in 2019
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Gulati was awarded India's third highest civilian award Padma Bhushan in 2019 for his contribution in the field of food processing.
5. Earning and charity
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He stayed the CEO of the company even in his late years and earned a salary of over Rs 20 crore for his position. It is reported by some sources that he was the highest-paid fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) CEO in India in 2017. He donated 90 per cent of his salary for charity under the Mahashay Chunni Lal Charitable Trust, which operated a 250-bed hospital and another mobile hospital in Delhi. The trust also runs four schools and offers financial support to people in need. (Image: MDHspices.com)
