He was born in Madhepura, Bihar in a middle-class Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha family to mother late Kishori Devi and father late Deva Nandan Sahay and was raised in Patna.

College of Arrah before joining Indian Police Service in 1960.

[citation needed] After retirement, he joined the Samata Party.

Yet traditionally governors serve for five years' tenure, Sahay served one year more than a typical governor's tenure.

[3] He is the father-in-law of current DGP of Bihar, Alok Raj.