Hamdard India

Hamdard Laboratories (India)
Company typeNon-profit
IndustryHealthcare, Food
Founded1906; 118 years ago (1906)
Founder
  • Abdul Majeed
  • Ansarullah Tabani
HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
Key people
Hakeem Abdul Hameed
ProductsRooh Afza, Safi, Roghan Badam Shirin, Sualin, Joshina, Cinkara
BrandsRooh Afza, Hamdard Khaalis, Hamdard Glucose-D
Website

Hamdard Laboratories (India), is a Unani pharmaceutical company in India (following the independence of India from Britain, "Hamdard" Unani branches were established in Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan) and Pakistan). It was established in 1906 by Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed in Delhi,[1] and became a waqf (non-profitable trust) in 1948.[2] Some of its most popular products include Sharbat Rooh Afza, Safi, Roghan Badam Shirin, Sualin, Joshina and Cinkara.[3] It is associated with Hamdard National Foundation, a charitable educational trust.[2]

History[edit]

Hamdard Laboratories was founded in 1906 in Delhi by Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed and Ansarullah Tabani, a Unani practitioner. The name Hamdard (Urdu: ہمدرد) means "companion in suffering" in Urdu language. Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed was born in Pilibhit city of Uttar Pradesh, India, in 1883 to Sheikh Rahim Bakhs. He is said to have learnt the complete Quran Sharif by heart. He also studied the origin of Urdu and Persian languages. Subsequently, he acquired the highest degree in the unani system of medicine.[1]

Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed got in touch with Hakim Zamal Khan[when?], who had a keen interest in herbs and was famous for identifying medicinal plants. Having consulted with his wife, Abdul Majeed set up a herbal shop at Hauz Qazi in Delhi in 1906 and started to produce herbal medicine there. In 1920 the small herbal shop turned into a full-fledged production house.

After the founder's passing in 1922, his wife Rabea Begum and her two sons founded the 'Hamdard Trust,' with a commitment to allocate 85 percent of its profits for charitable purposes.[4]


Hamdard Foundation was created in 1964 to disburse the profits of the company to promote the interests of the society. All the profits of the company go to the foundation.[5]

After Abdul Majeed's death, his son Hakeem Abdul Hameed took over the administration of Hamdard Laboratories at the age of fourteen.

Hamdard Laboratories has a twin manufacturing plant in Ghaziabad and one plant in Manesar Haryana.[6][7]

Products[edit]

The company has over 500 natural and herb-based products. Some of its known products are Sharbat Rooh Afza, Safi, Pachnaul, Roghan Badam Shirin, Sualin, Joshina and Cinkara.[3][1] One of its products, Safi has high demand in the country since it is believed to be used for blood purification.[6]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Meet Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed, the man behind Rooh Afza: Know about his journey, family & net worth". The Financial Express. 13 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b Mitra, Moinak (17 May 2013). "Meet the men behind 113-year-old Hamdard's modernisation drive". The Economic Times.
  3. ^ a b Das, Sharmila (11 April 2017). "Hamdard enters ready-to-drink beverage segment with RoohAfza Fusion". The Economic Times.
  4. ^ Manmohan, Nutan (26 August 2023). "Hamdard's Rooh Afza—the medicine syrup that turned into luxury drink for India & Pakistan". The Print.
  5. ^ New-look Hamdard gets down to business Archived 2 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine in Indian Express, 20 January 2001
  6. ^ a b "Heavy metal warning for Ayurvedic medicinal products". CBC News. 4 March 2005. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Metal content found in Ayurvedic drugs". IBN Live. 5 January 2006. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2013.

External links[edit]