Harilal Upadhyay was born on 22 January 1916 in Mota Khijadiya village near Rajkot in a family of Jadavji and Gangaben.

He completed his primary education from Paddhari while living with his father's elder brother Bhavanishankar and sister Dayakunwarben.

He moved to Jamnagar and studied in Sanskrit Pathshala where he mastered in traditional rituals and texts under Trambakram Shastri.

His uncle Bhavanishankar was also a traditional story teller and musician who used to go to different princely states for performance in royal courts.

His social novels set in historical background are Kalank Ane Kirtirekha, Vijay Vardaan, Bhagya devata, Roshani, and Aparajita.