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Mahashay Dharampal Gulati (MDH Owner) Biography: Age, Career, Family &

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth27 March 1923

Age97 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceSialkot, North-East Punjab (now Pakistan)

ProfessionEntrepreneur

NationalityIndian

Marital statusWidower

SpouseLilawati (deceased)

FamilyFather: Mahashay Chunni Lal Gulati; Sons: Sanjeev Gulati (deceased), Rajeev Gulati; Six daughters

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati (MDH Owner) Biography

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati built MDH into one of India’s most recognisable spice companies. Born in 1923 in Sialkot, he left school early to join the family

Early life and background

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati was born on 27 March 1923 in Sialkot in what is now Pakistan. He grew up in a Punjabi family that followed Arya Samaj principles. Formal schooling ended for him at a young age; he left school after the fifth grade and received practical training in accounting and trade skills before joining his father’s spice business.

The partition of India in 1947 forced Gulati and his family to leave Sialkot. They initially took refuge in Amritsar and later moved to Delhi, where conditions were difficult. With modest resources given by his father, he first tried his hand at running a horse-drawn carriage and then returned to the food trade. In 1948 he opened a small shop in Karol Bagh to revive the family spice business, and he expanded with another rented shop in Chandni Chowk in the early 1950s.

Career

Gulati founded Roopak Stores in Karol Bagh in 1954, described at the time as a modern-style spice shop for Delhi. A few years later, in 1959, he bought land in Kirti Nagar and established a factory under the name Mahashian Di Hatti Limited, commonly known as MDH. Under his leadership MDH grew from a neighbourhood spice shop into a national brand.

MDH expanded its product range and its reach, exporting a portfolio of more than 60 products to over 100 countries. The brand became widely recognised in India, and Gulati continued to represent and endorse MDH products publicly well into his nineties. He remained closely involved with the company’s image and operations while other family members, including his son Rajeev Gulati, took roles within the business.

Public profile

Gulati was a familiar public figure and was often addressed by affectionate nicknames such as Dadaji and the Masala King. He received several honours during his lifetime, including a Padma Bhushan in 2019. In 2016 and 2017 he received awards recognising his contributions to industry and business, and in 2017 he was reported as the highest-paid CEO in the Indian FMCG sector.

Philanthropy and institutions

Alongside his commercial activities, Gulati ran the Mahashay Chuni Lal Charitable Trust. The trust operates a hospital with 250 beds, runs a mobile medical unit for slum communities, and supports around 20 schools, four of which are in Delhi. The trust also provides financial help to social organisations in need. MDH published a magazine called Sandesh that emphasised traditional family values.

Personal life

Gulati married in 1941 and was a widower at the time of his death. His family included his wife Lilawati (deceased), two sons—one of whom, Sanjeev, predeceased him in 1992—and six daughters. His father, Mahashay Chunni Lal Gulati, had founded the original shop in 1919.

Later years and death

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati remained closely associated with MDH through his later years and continued to appear in advertising and public events. He died on 3 December 2020 at Mata Chanan Devi Hospital in New Delhi at the age of 97. Reports noted he had been receiving treatment following COVID-19 and that the immediate cause of death was cardiac arrest.

Latest updates

By the time of his passing, MDH had grown into a business with extensive manufacturing capability and global distribution. The company’s exports reached markets across Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, the Gulf and other regions, reflecting the multinational footprint MDH achieved under his stewardship.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Mahashay Dharampal Gulati (MDH Owner), send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Endorsement and public representation of MDH products

Continued to appear in advertising and represent MDH publicly into his nineties.

2010s
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Career Highlights

  1. Founded Roopak Stores in Karol Bagh (1954)
  2. Established MDH (Mahashian Di Hatti Limited) factory in Kirti Nagar (1959)
  3. MDH expanded to export more than 60 products to over 100 countries
  4. Recipient of the Padma Bhushan (2019)
  5. Ran Mahashay Chuni Lal Charitable Trust operating a hospital and multiple schools
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mahashay Dharampal Gulati (MDH Owner) born?

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati (MDH Owner) was born on 27 March 1923.

What is Mahashay Dharampal Gulati (MDH Owner) known for?

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati (MDH Owner) is known for entrepreneur.

What is Mahashay Dharampal Gulati (MDH Owner)’s marital status?

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati (MDH Owner)'s marital status is listed as Widower.

Who is Mahashay Dharampal Gulati (MDH Owner) married to?

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati (MDH Owner) is publicly listed as married to Lilawati (deceased).