News: ‘King of spices’ passes away at 97

Leadership

‘King of spices’ passes away at 97

Bestowed as the ‘King of spices’, Founder of India's leading manufacturer of spices, Mahashay Dharampal Gulati passes away at 97.
‘King of spices’ passes away at 97

Founder of India’s leading manufacturer of spices, MDH Masala, Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, passes away at 97. 

Born in 1923, in Sialkot, Pakistan, Mahashay Dharampal Gulati migrated to India with his father after partition, and opened his first shop in Delhi’s Karol Bagh, which went on to become the country’s leading manufacturer of specialty spices. While Mahashay Gulati dropped out of school early, he set up a small business with the help of his father in 1937, before he decided to join the family business of spices. After the partition, upon moving to India he decided to carry forward his father’s legacy.

Expanding from a local shop to 15 factories across the country, to a global supplier of premium spices, MDH has grown into an iconic brand, establishing its presence in various parts of the world including the UK, Europe, Canada and UAE.

Mahayshayji began his journey with INR 1,500 and transformed that into a successful empire valued at INR 1,000 Cr.

Fondly known as ‘dadaji’ or ‘Mahashayji’, he gained greater popularity once he began making an appearance in the company’s advertisements. According to reports, in 2017, he was the highest-paid CEO of an FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) company in India. 

Beyond business, Mahashay Gulati was also recognized for his contributions to the society. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, his active involvement in programmes aimed at improving the quality of education and association with a number of educational institutions, earned him tremendous respect from individuals across different walks of life.

Upon learning of his passing, leaders from across domains expressed deep loss and grief.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal posted on Twitter, “Dharm Pal ji was (a) very inspiring personality who dedicated his life for the society”.

In another tweet, Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik shared that he was "deeply saddened" by the news. "He was a shining beacon of India’s entrepreneurial journey who turned MDH Spices into an iconic brand. He will always be remembered for his philanthropic work."

Mahashayji breathed his last on the morning of December 3rd.

He will fondly be remembered as an iconic entrepreneur and a truly inspirational visionary.

 

Image credits: yourstory.com

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Topics: Leadership

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