All you need to know about the MDH uncle and his empire - the MDH Spices

As a 90s kids there are many advertisement jingles that still play in our heads. The washing powder Nirma or of the Bajaj scooter, advertisement back then had the emotional connect. But ‘Asli Masale Sach Sach, MDH, MDH’ of the MDH Masala had a different tone and familiarity with it. The emotional touch in these advertisements was the grandpa, in the end, or during the advert, in red paghdi and handlebar mustache.

While his presence in each and every advertisement of MDH spices gave the required personal touch, the quality of his spices roared higher making a place for itself in every Indian household. We remember Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, ‘King of Indian Spices’ who passed away at the age of 97 in Delhi on December 3, following a cardiac arrest.

This spice business was actually started by his father, Chunnilal Gulati, who had a spice shop in Sialkot (now in Pakistan) by the name of Mahashian Di Hatti also known by Deggi Mirch Wale.

Born in Sialkot, at the age of 10 in 1933, Gulati decided to drop out of school and did oddly jobs like carpentry, rice trading, and selling hardware, before he decided to join his father’s spice business to help him.

As fate had it soon after joining his father, Gulati expanded the store to Lahore, Shekhupura, Nankana Sahib, Lyallpur, and Multan in Punjab, giving them a huge turnout.

But in 1947 as partition took place, Gulati along with his family, moved to Delhi. Here he bought a tonga and took tours around New Delhi railway station, Qutab Road, and Karol Bagh to make ends meet.

A born businessman, in 1953 he rented a small shop to sell spices and named it Mahashian Di Hatti (MDH) at Chandni Chowk, carrying forward the business.

Despite his old age, he continued to visit his factory and markets frequently to ensure smooth functioning. Mahashay even took all the business decisions and believed that sincere work, quality products, and affordable prices will only grow the business.

With a business with turnover in millions, the masala king donated around 90% of his salary to charity under the Mahashay ChunniLal Charitable Trust that operates a hospital in Delhi, along with four schools and a mobile hospital for slum dwellers.

One of the biggest brands of spices, manufacturing almost 50 different types of spices, MDH exports spices to countries across the world, like Switzerland, Japan, the US, and Canada.

In 2019, he was conferred India’s third-highest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan.

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati was an example of grit, vigor, and a never to give up attitude that teaches that hard work and sincerity will always earn you love and success.