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Not every king is born an emperor. Not every beggar dies a poor death. There Mahashay Dharampal are some who with their sheer will, 8 dedication and perseverance, steer their lives making ‘rags to riches’ a reality. This special eight-part series is an ode A 93 year old man donning a red turban, a silver walking stick, and a to such bravehearts, who with their smile on his face appears on TV commercials, imbuing royalty at its fairytale endings, have given us the will to dream and the inspiration to turn best. But behind the royalty is a journey of hardship and conviction those dreams into a wonderful reality. Prakhya Bahl, AIS PV, XI

he journey from ‘tonga wala’ to ‘Masala King’ was not that easy for TMahashay Dharampal, founder of MDH Pvt Ltd. Behind this king is a saga that turned the struggle of bread and butter into an empire spicing up food worldwide, earning a networth of 3 million and being the brand ambassador of his own brand.

Because variety is the spice of life…he tried it all to choose the best On March 27, 1923, in Sialkot, now part of Pakistan, Mahashay Dharampal was born to Mahashay Chunnilal and Mata Chanan Devi. As a child, Dharampal was a jack of all trades but was yet to master one. He went to school diligently, imbibed the The first MDH shop in by Mahashay Dharampal after he moved to from Pakistan religious practices of his parents, followers of the Arya Samaj and helped his father at The road to their livelihood, let alone dreams looked sion of the legacy, as a second outlet in Chandni his spice shop. Later, in 1933, Mahashay uncertain now. In Delhi, their new abode was an Chowk and then a manufacturing unit was set up in Dharampal left school when he was in abandoned flat with no water and electricity. But 1959. The man full of simplicity had one simple the fifth grade to help his father in bad times, sometimes, brings out the best in you. principle- honouring commitments and serving his carrying forward their business. He And so even though Dharampal knew that he would customers pure and quality products. And on this worked with his father for 5 years have to make it from scratch now, he was deter- very foundation the MDH empire was built. The and then attempted to set up his mined to make the best. cramped shop now grew to become numerous shops own business in 1937. He tried his and industrial factories across various cities such as hand at different ventures- trad- He tasted the bitterness...and made it bittersweet Nagpur, Delhi, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Amritsar, ing in mirrors, carpentry, fabric Dharampal borrowed a sum of Rs 1,500 from his making MDH a famous brand for spices every- vending, equipment and rice. father and bought a tonga. His journey to the rise where. Today as MDH produces 30 tons of spices But most of these came to a again began with him riding the tonga from New per day, a spice maker from Sialkot stands tall on a stop on a dime. He then went Delhi railway station to Qutab Road and Karol multi-million dollar empire. back to his ancestral business Bagh to Bara Hindu Rao at two annas per sawari. of selling spices, this time This was to manage two meals a day and on some And to spice it all up…there was humility with an utter sense of convic- days, there were neither passengers nor meals. But A philanthropist at heart, Mahashay Dharampal is tion. The fate of Mahashian that couldn’t bring down his soaring spirits. For the also known for his contribution towards the welfare Di Hatti (MDH), which was man who was resolute to give the world a taste of of society and upliftment of needy. In the field of famously known as Deggi his spices, not being able to manage bread and but- healthcare, he started with a modest attempt of an Mirch Wale, was now in his ter for a day was least troublesome. He thought big- eye hospital with 10 beds. Thereafter, a 20 bed hos- hands to alter. ger, he thought better. pital was established in memory of his mother Mata After having saved enough, Mahashay Dharampal Chanan Devi. The same has transformed to a super But hunger is the best sold the tonga and purchased a little wooden khokha speciality hospital with facilities such as MRI, CT spice…and he made the best (Shop/Hatti) measuring 14ft x 9 ft at Ajmal Khan Scan, Heart Wing, Neuro Sciences, IVF etc. and of it Road, , . He once again raised 300 beds, providing free medical aid to the poor Destiny this time, had other plans. the pennant of Mahashiyan Di Hatti (MDH), Deggi people. He has also set up various educational in- Came the fateful year of 1947, rip- Mirch Wale and ran his privately-run company of stitution such as MDH International School, Ma- ping many families off their life ground spices. Years passed and the sheer hardwork hashay Chunnilal Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Mata earnings, across what are now the and perseverance was paid off. Leela Wati Kanya Vidhayala, Mahashay Dhara Indo-Pak borders. The partition mpal Vidhya Mandir to ensure learning for every forced Mahashay Dharampal’s It was time now…to taste success child. To make abundance from little has been the family to move to India, leaving The tables turned, the times of struggle were re- man’s credit, whether for work or nobility. behind the belongings of their placed with happy days. 1953 witnessed the expan- Life was not easy for him but he went on to make blood and sweat. The family the best of it. Because that is exactly what great reached a refugee shelter in men do. After all, what’s a platter that offers just Amritsar from where they were one flavour?G T to move permanently to Delhi.

Today, MDH offers an array of spice, capturing 70% market share in North India