He was born in Kha-ye village near Mawlamyine, British Burma, where he was brought up by four spinster aunts.
The son of a Burmese traditional doctor, he had his early education in the village monastery.
After high school, he went to Rangoon University and earned an MA in Burmese in 1938.
On his return he brought back to Burma his lifelong collection of books, said to be worth about 50,000 USD, for donation to Burmese university libraries.
Considered one of the most prominent Burmese scholars and one of the founders of Burma Studies, he has written numerous academic articles for Burma journals and published many books in English and Burmese during his academic career.