Cholil Aziz was born in the village of Gunung Meraksa in Lahat Regency on 3 October 1932.

He obtained his bachelor's degree in law at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.

[1][2] He was that assistant to the governor of South Sumatra for the Bangka Belitung Islands region until 1983.

[1] He was reelected in 1988, winning 38 of the 45 votes cast by the Palembang city council.

[5] He also planned a project to improve the Great Mosque of Palembang with the participation of architects from the Bandung Institute of Technology, but the project was cancelled due to lack of funding.