Ekbal was born on September 9th, 1947 as the son of KA Bappukunj and S Mariamma at Kuzhuvalil House in Changanacherry.

After completing his school education at St. Berchmans High School, Changanacherry and Pre-University course at St Berchmans College at Changanacherry, Ekbal did his Pre-Professional course in the year 1964-'65.

Dr Ekbal took his MBBS degree from Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram and completed his MS in General Surgery in 1980 from Medical College, Kottayam.

He also did his M Ch in Neurosurgery from Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram in 1982.