The popular face of MDH spices advertisement and CEO of the brand house, Dharampal Gulati passed away on Thursday morning of a cardiac arrest.
The man who was commonly called “Mahashay” Dhamrampal Gulati, referring to the first name of his late father, was admitted in the hospital weeks back and had been getting treated in the Delhi healthcare centre. According to reports, the “grand old man of spices” died of a cardiac arrest. He was 97 years old.
With his signature red turban, pearl necklace and kurtas, he had become a famous personality after starring in his company’s ads on the television.
MDH, or Mahashian Di Hatti as it originally is, is a well-known brand of spices with the tagline “Asli Masale Sach Sach, MDH, MDH”.
Social media users remembered the late “chachaji” with his always smiling face giving blessings in his advertisement. More recently, Mr. Gulati had also featured in another one of his videos.
The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, also gave his condolences to the late entrepreneur. Mr. Gulati was honoured with the country’s third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan last year in 2019.
Mr. Kovind’s hindi tweet when translated to English read as, “Saddened by the demise of ”Mahashiyan Di Hatti” (MDH) President Shri Dharampal Gulati ji, who was honoured with Padma Bhushan. He was a well-known personality of the Indian industry. His social service activities are also commendable. My condolences to his family and fans.”
The first ones to offer their condolences were Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. The latter also posted a picture with the late figure on Twitter.
“Dharam Pal ji was a very inspiring personality. He dedicated his life for society. God bless his soul,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted.
While Mr. Sisodia’s tweet said, “India’s most inspiring entrepreneur, MDH owner Dharm Pal Mahashay passed away this morning. I have never met such an inspiring and lively soul. May his soul rest in peace.”
Born in Sialkot, Pakistan in the year 1923, Mr. Gulati dropped out in his fifth grade and joined father Mahashay Chunni Lal Gulati in his spice business then itself.
MDH website reads his biography that mentions about Mr. Gulati establishing another business of his own in 1937 of mirrors, soaps, hardware and rice with the support of Mr. Chunni Lal. However, when the business dint take a flight, he came back to assist his father’s MDH company. However, they were known as “Deggi Mirch Wale” earlier.
When the partition happened in 1947, he moved with his family to India. He had Rs.1500 to himself when he reached Delhi in that year.
His first store was setup in Delhi’s Karol Bagh from where it picked up and he expanded it to the current state.
In 1959, Mr. Gulati reestablished his company as MDH which today stores 62 products that are all sold in more than 150 different packages worldwide.
In 2017, Mr, Gulati topped the list of the highest paid CEOs of India. Apart from this business, he was also a philanthropist who constructed many hospitals and educational centres.
Over the years, he was addressed with several nicknames like Dadaji, Chacha and MDH uncle.
