The photograph of the smiling ‘Dadaji’ in his iconic red turban and white sherwani on the packet of MDH Masala assures me that this masala will add an exquisite aroma and taste to every dish I try. Call it an supposition because of my conditioning but colourful packets of these masalas have always been a part of our culinary repertoire.
Are you a 90s kids? Then you will clearly remember, the face of Dharampal Gulati, the man behind MDH masalas. A spice maker who turned his small roadside shop into MDH Spices, a household name around the country, Mahashay Dharampal Gulati passed away on Thursday.
Dharampal was born in Pakistan’s Sialkot. His father Chuni Lal sold spices at a shop in 1919. The family migrated to India and they stayed as a refugee in Amritsar.
This was when Dharampal left with his brother-in-law and moved to Delhi and that's where he bought a horse-drawn carriage with the money his father gave him. He made an investment of Rs 650 out of Rs 1,500 given to him. Remember the year and what would be the value of Rs 1,500! He did not make big from the business and hence decided to open a small shop and restarted his own family business of selling spices and rest is the history.
As for Gulati, his remarkable rags-to-riches story will forever remain etched in our memories. As soon as the news broke out, Twitter was not ready to take this sad news on Thursday morning and paid tributes to the legend.
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In 2019, he was honoured with Padma Bhushan. Under the banner of Mahashay Chunni Lal Charitable Trust, he donates nearly 90 per cent. This trust operates a 250-bed hospital in the national capital, along with four schools and a mobile hospital for slum dwellers.
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati has made the globe believe in the power of India. The willpower and the hard work that he has shown are exceptional and highly inspiring. You will be remembered Dadaji!
