"Asli masale sach sach, MDH, MDH."
I am willing to bet that if you are an Indian, then you were humming the lines above in your mind!
But do you know the story behind the MDH legacy?
Time for a thread 🧵👇
#fintwit #thursdayvibes
I am willing to bet that if you are an Indian, then you were humming the lines above in your mind!
But do you know the story behind the MDH legacy?
Time for a thread 🧵👇
#fintwit #thursdayvibes
If there’s a brand that has been adding flavor to a million lives in India, it is MDH.
A household name in the country, the founder of MDH, Mahashay Dharampal Gulati has a rags-to-riches story of a refugee-turned-entrepreneur.
A household name in the country, the founder of MDH, Mahashay Dharampal Gulati has a rags-to-riches story of a refugee-turned-entrepreneur.
An acronym for Mahashian Di Hatti, which translates to ‘respected man’s shop’, MDH visualized and made the concept of ready-to-use spices a reality for consumers across the world.
Born & raised in Sialkot, Pakistan, Gulati left school in 1933 while he was in the fifth standard.
Born & raised in Sialkot, Pakistan, Gulati left school in 1933 while he was in the fifth standard.
In 1937, he helped his father set up a small business selling mirrors.
He tried his luck in other fields, starting a soap business, doing carpentry work and exploring the cloth, hardware and rice trading businesses.
None of these ventures worked!
He tried his luck in other fields, starting a soap business, doing carpentry work and exploring the cloth, hardware and rice trading businesses.
None of these ventures worked!
The year 1947 changed everything as he and his family moved to India during the partition, leaving behind everything they owned.
They reached a refugee camp in Amritsar before eventually moving to a flat in Delhi with no electricity, water, or toilet facilities.
They reached a refugee camp in Amritsar before eventually moving to a flat in Delhi with no electricity, water, or toilet facilities.
On moving to Delhi, the young Gulati’s father gave him Rs 1500 out of which he used Rs 650 to buy a tonga (a horse-drawn carriage).
There were days when he had no passengers and the two annas (equivalent to 1/8th of a rupee) that he charged proved too meager to sustain a family.
There were days when he had no passengers and the two annas (equivalent to 1/8th of a rupee) that he charged proved too meager to sustain a family.
It wasn’t long before he decided to forego the tonga.
Gulati’s father’s family business was grinding and selling spices.
The family was popularly called “Deggi Mirch Wale”, which translates to ‘people who sell red chilli powder’.
Gulati’s father’s family business was grinding and selling spices.
The family was popularly called “Deggi Mirch Wale”, which translates to ‘people who sell red chilli powder’.
Gulati sold the tonga and bought a small space to start a business in his domain: spices.
He made a brand out of it and called it ‘Mahashian Di Hatti’ (MDH).
After a few initial years of grinding and selling spices from the tiny shop, the family started making enough money.
He made a brand out of it and called it ‘Mahashian Di Hatti’ (MDH).
After a few initial years of grinding and selling spices from the tiny shop, the family started making enough money.
Word spread around Delhi about the Sialkot spice makers and thus began the @SpicesMdh empire’s establishment in Delhi.
In 1953, he rented the second shop at Chandni Chowk, and in 1959 he bought a plot of land and set up a spice factory in Kirti Nagar.
In 1953, he rented the second shop at Chandni Chowk, and in 1959 he bought a plot of land and set up a spice factory in Kirti Nagar.
Gulati and his family left behind days of struggle, poverty, and misery.
His perseverance and honesty made him rise above the confines of his situation and create a brand that has grown leaps and bounds over the years.
His perseverance and honesty made him rise above the confines of his situation and create a brand that has grown leaps and bounds over the years.
As he aged, Gulati started giving back to society.
@SpicesMdh has established charitable trusts, hospitals, and more than 20 schools to give back and help the poor.
Under the banner of Mahashay Chunni Lal Charitable Trust, he donates nearly 90%.
@SpicesMdh has established charitable trusts, hospitals, and more than 20 schools to give back and help the poor.
Under the banner of Mahashay Chunni Lal Charitable Trust, he donates nearly 90%.
This trust operates a 250-bed hospital in Delhi, along with four schools & a mobile hospital for slum dwellers.
He was named “Indian of the Year” at ABCI annual awards in 2016.
He received “Excellence Award” for lifetime achievement in 2017.
He was named “Indian of the Year” at ABCI annual awards in 2016.
He received “Excellence Award” for lifetime achievement in 2017.
In 2019, he was honoured with Padma Bhushan.
Even at over ninety years old he still ran MDH!
Gulati passed away at the age of 97 in 2020.
He was a billionaire by then, a Padma Bhushan awardee, and supposedly the most aged CEO of a company in the world.
Even at over ninety years old he still ran MDH!
Gulati passed away at the age of 97 in 2020.
He was a billionaire by then, a Padma Bhushan awardee, and supposedly the most aged CEO of a company in the world.
He was also the highest-paid fast-moving consumer goods CEO in India in 2017.
As salary last fiscal, he took home over Rs 21 crore.
His spice market has spread in more than 100 countries across the world.
As salary last fiscal, he took home over Rs 21 crore.
His spice market has spread in more than 100 countries across the world.
@SpicesMdh now has a range of 62 different products available in more than 150 packages.
It continues to produce new spice blends.
The company has five state-of-the-art factories to meet the growing demand for spices across the world.
It continues to produce new spice blends.
The company has five state-of-the-art factories to meet the growing demand for spices across the world.
From ground single spices to aromatic spice blends, MDH produces it all.
The brand has become synonymous with good taste and delectable flavor.
The smiling old man you’ve seen in every MDH TV commercial indeed has a story of perseverance, hard work, and humility.
The brand has become synonymous with good taste and delectable flavor.
The smiling old man you’ve seen in every MDH TV commercial indeed has a story of perseverance, hard work, and humility.
For more such bite sized, unknown stories of well known entrepreneurs follow me at @_BizBites
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