Dharampal Gulati facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dharampal Gulati
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Gulati receiving the Padma Bhushan from the President of India Ramnath Kovind, 2019
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| Born | 27 March 1923 Sialkot, Punjab, British India
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| Died | 3 December 2020 (aged 97) |
| Occupation | Founder and CEO of MDH |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan (2019) |
Dharampal Gulati (27 March 1923 – 3 December 2020) was a famous Indian businessman. He was also known as Mahashay Dharampal Gulati. He started and led the well-known Indian spice company, MDH. MDH stands for Mahashian Di Hatti, which means "gentlemen's shop". People called him the 'spice-king' because he was one of the first to sell ready-to-use ground spices. In 2019, he received the Padma Bhushan, which is India's third highest award for civilians.
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Early Life and New Beginnings
Dharampal Gulati was born on March 27, 1923, in Sialkot. This area is now part of Pakistan. His father, Chunnilal Gulati, owned a spice shop there. It was called Mahashian Di Hatti. When Dharampal was just 10 years old, in 1933, he stopped going to school. He tried many different jobs, like carpentry and selling rice. Eventually, he joined his father's spice business.
He helped his father grow the spice shop. They opened new stores in other cities in Punjab. The business did very well, earning a good amount of money each day.
However, in 1947, India was divided into two countries. This event is known as the partition of India. Dharampal's family had to leave their home in Sialkot. They traveled to what is now India. After staying in a refugee camp, they moved to New Delhi. To earn money, Dharampal bought a horse carriage, called a tonga. He drove it around New Delhi. Later, he tried selling cane sugar from a small stall, but it didn't work out.
Building a Spice Empire
In 1958, Dharampal decided to restart his father's spice business. He opened a small wooden shop in the Karol Bagh area of New Delhi. He gave it the same name, Mahashian Di Hatti. He advertised in a popular newspaper, which helped his shop become well-known. He then opened a second store in Chandni Chowk, also in New Delhi.
In 1959, he bought land and built a factory in Kirti Nagar. At that time, most Indian families ground their own spices at home. Dharampal was a pioneer. He introduced the idea of selling ready-to-use ground spices. His company was officially named MDH in 1965.
Dharampal Gulati helped MDH grow into a huge company. It now has 18 factories! In 2018, the company earned a lot of money. He was even the highest-paid CEO in India's fast-moving consumer goods industry in 2017. He was also famous for his unique way of marketing. He became the face of his own brand. His picture, showing him in traditional clothes with a turban and mustache, was on all MDH spice packets. This made him a very popular and trusted figure.
Important Roles
Dharampal Gulati held several important positions:
- Managing Director of Super Delicacies Private Limited.
- Director of Mahashian Di Hatti Private Limited.
- Chairman of Mata Chanan Devi Hospital in New Delhi.
Giving Back to the Community
Dharampal Gulati cared a lot about helping others. He started 20 schools to provide education for children. Some of these schools include MDH International School and Mahashay Dharampal Vidya Mandir. He also built a 200-bed hospital in New Delhi for people who couldn't afford medical care. He even set up a mobile hospital for people living in slums.
His charity work was managed by the Mahashay Chunnilal Charitable Trust. This trust was named after his father. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he donated money to help. He also gave 7,500 special protective kits to healthcare workers in Delhi.
In 2019, Dharampal Gulati was honored with the Padma Bhushan. This is one of India's highest civilian awards.
Later Years
Dharampal Gulati passed away on December 3, 2020. He was 97 years old. He died at the Mata Chanan Devi Hospital in Delhi. His death was due to heart problems after having COVID-19. He had been admitted to the hospital in November.
