He was born into a Hindu Dogra Rajput family[REF][REF] of Kahlur state in modern-day Himachal Pradesh,[REF] they migrated to the Jammu region where, on coming of age, Zorawar took up service under Raja Jaswant Singh of Marmathi (modern Doda district).
Zorawar Singh fulfilled his task and his grateful ruler made him commissariat officer of all forts north of Jammu.