 He was educated at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and the 'Prince of Wales' Royal Military College RIMC, Dehra Dun and the Indian Military Academy.He was commissioned from the Indian Military Academy on 1 February 1935 and was attached to a British Army regiment, 1st battalion The King's Shropshire Light Infantry.He joined the 5th battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment 16 March 1936.