Mahashay Dharampal Gulati was an Indian Businessman who died of a heart attack at the age of 97 on December 3, 2020. Spending the first 25 years of his life in Pakistan, he came to India during partition and set up his spice business. From a small shop in Delhi, his spice business spread all over the world gradually.
Biography/Wiki
Gulati was born into a Punjabi family on March 27, 1923 in Sialkot in Pakistan. He spent his childhood in Pakistan and attended Primary School there. He was not interested in the subject and dropped out of his school in the 5th standard. His father runs a spice shop in Pakistan. After leaving school, he started helping his father in his spice shop called “Mahashian Di Hatti (MDH)” and started selling ‘Mehandi’ and used to earn around ₹20/day.
During the partition of India in 1947, his family decided to migrate to India. He along with his family resides in Delhi. In Delhi, initially, he used to stay in his nephew’s house in Karol Bagh, which had no electricity, water supply and toilet facilities.
Old family photo of Mahashay Dharampal Gulati
Family
Dharampal Gulati was born to Mahashay Chunni Lal Gulati and Mata Chanan Devi in a Khatri family on March 27, 1923 in Sialkot, North East Punjab, Pakistan.
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati with his parents
He has two brothers and five sisters. His brothers, Mahashay Satpal Gulati and Dharamveer Gulati, are also businessmen.
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati with his family
In 1941, when he was 18, he married Lilawati, but in 1992, she died.
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati with his wife
He has two sons. Her son Sanjeev Gulati died just 2 months after his mother’s death in 1992. Gulati had six daughters.
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati with his grandson and his family
Career
While in Pakistan, when he left his school, he learned many handicrafts such as Carpentry, Embroidery, Painting, etc., but did not succeed, then, his father took him to his spice shop. When he migrated to India, he had Rs. 1500 in his pocket. From that money, he bought a Tanga (horse carriage) worth ₹650 and used it to carry passengers from Connaught Place to Karol Bagh. Later, he sold his Hand because it wasn’t his cup of tea. He built a small shop in Karol Bagh in 1948, to restart his family’s old spice business.
Gulati’s old MDH store in Delhi’s Karol Bagh
After initial success, he took another shop in Chandni Chowk in 1953.
Old photo of Mahashay Dharampal Gulati MDH shop
In 1959, he set up his first spice factory at Kirti Nagar in Delhi. Gradually, MDH emerged as one of the biggest brands in the spice category in India and Abroad. Its spice markets are spread over more than 100 countries around the world.
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati with Raj Kapoor in the 1950s
Awards, Honors, Achievements
In 2016, he was named ‘Indian of the Year’ at the ABCI Annual Awards.
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati was named ‘Indian of the Year’ at the ABCI Annual Awards
In 2017, Gulati received the “Award of Excellence” for Lifetime Achievement.
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati received the Excellence Award for Lifetime Achievement
In 2019, he was awarded with Padma Shri- India’s third highest civilian award by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind.
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati Honored With Padma Shri By Ram Nath Kovind
Salary, Assets, Net Worth
He has an 80% stake in MDH, owns 1 hospital, 15 factories, and 20 schools.
MDH Mahashay Dharampal Gulati School at Janakpuri in New Delhi
In 2017, he was the highest paid CEO in India with a salary of Rs. 21 crore/year. In 2017, his company’s turnover was around Rs. 1000 crores. According to a report in 2014, his net worth is Rs. 500 crores.
Death
On Thursday, December 3, 2020, Mahashay Dharampal Gulati breathed his last at Chanan Devi Eye Hospital, New Delhi where he was undergoing post-Covid treatment. Reportedly, he died of a heart attack.
Facts/Trivia
- He founded ‘Roopak Stores’ in 1954 in Karol Bagh, Delhi. It was India’s first modern spice shop in Delhi during that era. However, he later handed over ‘Roopak Stores’ to his younger brother, Satpal Gulati.
Dharampal Gulati handed over his Roopak shop to his brother Satpal Gulati
- Even at the end of his life, he once appeared as the brand ambassador of MDH products.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBBwjJk_2Os
- Reportedly, he is an early riser, and he never misses a morning walk every day. He used to practice Yoga and before leaving home, he used to participate in “Havan” (public fire ritual) at his house.
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati performed Havan
- He was very spiritual and followed the Arya Samaj.
- Gulati founded a trust called ‘Mahashay Chuni Lal Charitable Trust’ which runs a hospital with 250 beds and, another mobile hospital for slum dwellers.
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati founded the Chanan Devi Eye Hospital in Janakpuri New Delhi 88
- Apart from the charitable trust, MDH also runs a magazine called ‘Sandesh,’ which showcases traditional Indian family values.
Sandesh Magazine
- He published his autobiography in which he revealed details from his childhood to his success.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
