Mahashian Di Hatti
 | |
| Deemed Public Limited Company | |
| Industry | Food, Spices |
| Founded | 1919, Sialkot |
| Founder | Mahashay Chuni Lal |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
Key people | Mahashay Dharam Pal |
| Products | Chana Masala, Kitchen King, Chunky Chaat Masala, Meat Masala |
| Subsidiaries | MAHASHIAN DI HATTI (Assorted hatti) |
| Website | MDH Spices website |
Mahashian Di Hatti Limited is an Indian manufacturer, distributor and exporter of ground spices and spice mixtures under the brand name MDH. It specializes in several unique traditional blends of spices suitable for different recipes (Chana Masala for chickpeas, for example). The company was founded in 1919 by Mahashay Chuni Lal as a small shop in Sialkot. It has since grown in popularity all over India, and exports its products to several countries.[1] It is associated with Mahashay Chuni Lal Charitable Trust.
Mahashay Chuni Lal started the enterprise in Sialkot (now in Pakistan) on March 8, 1919. In a few years, the spices became very famous and they came to be known as "Deggi Mirch Wale" (the Pot Chilli People), after the name of one of their famous spice mixtures. After the partition of India, Mahashay Dharam Pal, the son of the founder, moved to Delhi and opened up his shop at Ajmal Khan Road, Karol Bagh under the banner "Mahashian Di Hatti of Sialkot (Deggi Mirch wale)". The name Mahashian Di Hatti means "the Shop of the Magnanimous" in Punjabi.
History
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati was born on 27 March 1923 in Sialkot (Pakistan). His father Mahashay Chunnilal and mother Mata Chanan Devi were Philanthropic, religious minded and followers of Arya Samaj.
In the year 1933, he left school before he could have completed 5th class. In 1937, he set up with the help of his father a small business of looking mirrors and thereafter soap business and carpentry job, cloth merchant, hardware business & rice trading. Somehow these petty businesses could not hold him for long and he again joined hands with his father in his parental business i.e. Spices under the name of Mahashian Di Hatti popularly known as ‘Deggi Mirch Wale‘ people.
After the partition of the country, he came to India and reached Delhi on 27 September 1947. At that time he was having only Rs.1500/- with him. Out of this amount he purchased a Tanga for Rs.650/- and drove it from New Delhi Railway Station to Qutab Road and Karol Bagh to Bara Hindu Rao at two Annas sawari for few days. Thereafter he bought small wooden khokha (Shop/Hatti) measuring 14 ft. x 9 ft. at Ajmal Khan Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi and started his family business of ground spices and again raised the banner of Mahashian Di Hatti of Sialkot “DEGGI MIRCH WALE“. He use to distribute his spices in the villages of Bihar and Odisha, mainly in Bihar east singbhum (now in Jharkhand) and Odisha's Mayurbhanj district.
Apart from the spice industry, he started a small 10 bed eye hospital at Arya Samaj, Subhash Nagar, New Delhi during November 1975. Thereafter in January 1984, a 20-bed hospital was established in JanakPuri, New Delhi to perpetuate the memory of his mother Mata Chanan Devi. With 300 beds in about 5 acres land, this super specialty hospital with MRI, CT Scan, Heart Wing, Neuro Sciences, IVF etc. is the greatest gift for people living in West Delhi as there is no other hospital of this standard in this area. Mahashay ji himself visits the hospital regularly and actively participates in the management of the hospital despite all his hectic commitments in the ever-expanding business.
Mahashay Dharmpal has also developed schools to impart quality education to the new generation. Today he is associated with numerous educational institutions particularly MDH International School, Mahashay Chunnilal Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Mata Leela Wati Kanya Vidhayala, Mahashay Dharmpal Vidhya Mandir etc. which hold a distinction that upholds the philosophy of harmonious co-existence. He has established more than 20 schools for the benefits of the society and the poor people at large.
Often seen as a religion person for his active and enthusiastic participation in community functions and festivals, Mahashayji is a personality above religions. He is indeed a man of all communities. Hindu, Muslim or Sikh he will be seen at all festivals or religious functions. Anything that divides the community he wants no part of it. May be that is the reason why he has stayed away from all controversies or allegiances of politics.
The philosophy of Mahashay Dharampal Ji is “Give to the world the best you can, and the best will come back to you automatically” has virtually been a proverbial come true by the fact that today, MDH is a name that stands synonymous not only for quality spices but also for its contributions towards the welfare of society and upliftment of the needy, by way of establishing Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Trust. MDH today stands as a name in every house hold, trusted & relished all over the world by millions.
References
- ↑ "A sneak peek into the flavourful world of MDH". Economic Times. 6 May 2009.