He initially pursued higher education in Florence, Italy, but left in 1943 to return to his home country and participate in the antifascist movement to liberate Albania.
He also collaborated with magazines of the time and with Radio-Tirana, writing literary-publicistic works and being active in the Literary Circle of Antifascist Youth of Tirana.
In 1946, he continued his higher education in Belgrade but would graduate in literature at the Sofia University in Bulgaria due to the worsening relations between the two countries.
He also wrote the lyrics to the song Të dua o det ("I Love You o Sea"), which would be performed by Tonin Tërshana in Festivali i Këngës in 1965, winning first prize in the process.
The third volume of Historia e letërsisë shqipe ("History of Albanian Literature"), prepared by Gurakuqi, Vehbi Bala and Jup Kastrati under the scientific direction of Dhimitër Shuteriqi and redaction of Koço Bihiku was banned during its printing process in 1968.