'Mahashay' Dharampal Gulati: How A Tonga Puller In The 1950s Ended Up Becoming India’s Spice King, The Story Of 'MDH Uncle'

Most fondly known as ‘Mahashay', Dharampal Gulati came to India after partition with just Rs 1,500 in his hand, bought a tonga, and used to ferry travelers from Connaught Place to Karol Bagh.

It is a sad day for almost every generation as the King of Spices, MDH owner ‘Mahashay’ Dharampal Gulati passed on December 3 after suffering from cardiac arrests. All of us can never forget the iconic advertisement of MDH masale and the song 'Asli Masaale Sach Sach' featuring 'MDH uncle' is fresh in our minds. Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, famously known as the ‘MDH uncle’, ‘Dadaji’, ‘Masala King’, or ‘King of Spices’ was the owner and CEO of MDH (Mahshian Di Hatti). Most fondly known as ‘Mahashay', Gulati was born in 1923 in Pakistan’s Sialkot, Gulati was born (1923) and raised in Sialkot, Pakistan. His father Dharampal’s father Chuni Lal sold spices from a small shop Mahashian Di Hat. He left his studies at a very young age to help his father at the shop.

Dharampal Gulati-from a Tonga driver to becoming the spice 'king'

In 1947, he and his family had to move to India, given the partition. From a refugee camp in Amritsar, the family went on to live in an unfacilitated flat in Delhi. His father handed him Rs 1500 and he used Rs 650 to buy a tonga. According to popular stories, the MDH owner started ferrying travellers from Connaught Place to Karol Bagh in his tonga. Forced into poverty, there were days Dharampal had no passengers. Some reportedly even hurled abuses at him. He went ahead and sold the tonga as the going got tough. His family business was grinding spices and was even referred to as “deggi mirch wale”, which translates to ‘people who sell red chili powder’. After selling the tonga, he brought a small space along the Ajmal Khan Road in Delhi's Karol Bagh to sell spices. The company was officially established in 1959 when Gulati bought land in Kirti Nagar and set up a manufacturing unit. Slowly, he noticed that the pace at which the spices were selling was helping him gain success as this was an untouched niche during that time. Later, Gulati rented one more shop in Chandni Chowk to begin his factory. This was the starting of Mashian Di Hatti (MDH), his father's legacy. Currently, MDH Spices, which reportedly manufactures nearly 50 different varieties of spices, has 15 factories across the country and sells its products across the globe, as per reports. Gulati became highest-paid FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) CEO in India in 2017. Despite his age, Gulati used to take all major business decisions. Even at an age where most of the people seek retirement, Gulati made daily rounds to factories, markets, and dealers including on Sundays until he was satisfied everything is in order in the company where he held 80% stake.

'Mahashay' the philanthropist

Another intriguing fact about Gulati is that about 90 per cent of his salary goes to charity, "My motivation to work is being sincere in product quality sold at affordable prices. And nearly 90% of my salary goes to a charity in my personal capacity," said Gulati. He also has a charitable trust named after his father, which runs a 250-bed hospital for slum dwellers and runs four other schools for the less privileged. Most recently as a contribution to support the fight against the novel coronavirus, Gulati donated PPE kits and an undisclosed amount to the Delhi CM relief fund. On 28 April, Manish Sisodia took to Twitter to share the news that Dharmpal had donated 7,500 PPE kits for healthcare workers in Delhi. Additionally, he also contributed to the CM Relief Fund. The tweet read, “Each opportunity to meet @MahashyDharmpalji is a blessing. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude by Mahashay ji's gesture to donate 7500 #ppekits in addition to his generous contribution to the #CMReliefFund. Sir, your kindness gives #Delhi hope & strength in these difficult times” In 2019, among the 112 distinguished people who were conferred with Padma awards, was Gulati, who received the Padma Bhushan award from President Ram Nath Kovind for his work.