A commitment to giving back to society with a charitable and compassionate spirit has been at the core of the business model adopted and followed by the Delhi-based Hamdard Laboratories India during its 118 years of existence.
Hamdard originates from two Persian words – “Hum”, meaning “companion”, and “Dard” meaning “pain” – and today, keeping this dream of their founder Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed (1882-1922) with missionary zeal, this business behemoth invests major portion of its profits in social causes, with a trained focus on healthcare, education, and skill development, which has benefited countless individuals, communities and institutions.
Hamdard Laboratories India's CEO, Hamid Ahmed, the great grandson of Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed and grandson of the late Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the founder and first chancellor of Jamia Hamdard University, is quite emphatic when he says that, “Our job-oriented courses, vocational training initiatives and healthcare programs have transformed lives and created opportunities for the needy."
Under Hamid Ahmed’s leadership, the Hamdard Food Division has, over the past two years expanded its business reach to every part of North, North Western and Eastern India, most notably in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
In a significant tie-up with the Shree Rani Sati Group, the Hamdard Laboratories Food Division has created an effective and efficient marketing, distribution, and supply chain services system through which some of its major and popular products like Natural Blossom Honey, Saffron, Squash, RoohAfza Lassi, RoohAfza Lite, Hamdard Hing, Nariyal Paani, Herbal Juices, Glucose-D, RoohAfza, Jam-e-Shirin, Hamdard Isabgol, Fusion Drinks, RoohAfza Milkshake, and other items are on offer in different variants in these ten states.
Some of these brands have become household names. “The Drink of India”, RoohAfza, is an outstanding example of Hamdard Food’s commitment for excellence and trust. The drink was first introduced by Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed in 1907 and 117 years later, it stands tall in the Indian branded food category.
Hamid Ahmed’s leadership is visible too in India’s education sector. Hamdard University was established in November 1962 with a vision and mission to offer a range of courses in Unani medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, management studies and much more.
A deemed university, Jamia Hamdard seeks to and is providing quality higher education and cutting-edge research in the fields of natural science and technology, besides social sciences. It particularly promotes the study of modern and traditional medicinal systems, with a focus on Unani. According to Hamid Ahmed, Jamia Hamdard’s consistent commitment to following a holistic and integrative approach to healthcare is helping the underprivileged sections of Indian society.
“The university provides scholarships based on merit, regardless of religion, reflecting Hamdard's dedication to empowering young minds. Our university is committed to providing quality education, fostering innovation, and nurturing talent,” he says.
Ahmed further states that the university has undertaken a mission to co-operate, collaborate and associate with both national and international institutions that share similar ideals to provide higher education and state-of-the-art knowledge to deserving students at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels.
Jamia Hamdard today ensures that research and teaching is conducted as per international ethical standards and transparency. Environmental consciousness and a commitment to promoting green technologies through mediums like water conservation, harvesting, solar energy, waste and water re-cycling and eco-friendly waste management is another qualitative aspect of the Hamdard journey.
Several other institutes also have the Hamdard imprint such as the Hamdard National Foundation, the Hamdard Education Society, the Hamdard Study Circle, the Hamdard Public School, the Ghalib Academy, the Centre for South Asian Studies and Business & Employment Bureau. All of these institutions were amalgamated under the Jamia Hamdard banner in 1989.
Few in the present millennium would have envisioned or thought that the small steps taken by Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed back in 1905-06, would grow into a name and brand, symbiotic with integrity and quality in the field of health and medicine.
In his short life of 40 years, Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed (1882-1922) managed to plant a seed of charity and compassion in his family. It is a matter of pride for the family that in its 118 years of existence, Hamdard has lived up to this tenet of its founder in more ways than one.

Email:-------------farooqwani61@yahoo.co.in