Born in Nairobi, Kenya, the son of a well-off wood merchant, he grew up in Sindh, now part of Pakistan. He described himself as a rebellious child who ran away from home three times and, at the age of 13, was expelled from school as unteachable. The third time he left home, he made it to England where, at 17, he connected with British middle-classes. He was personally recommended by George Lansbury MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, for admission as a reader to the British Museum Library.