He was born in Yangon in 1954, the fourth and youngest son of Thadu, a film director and writer, and Khin Nyo, a school headmistress.
His first novelette, Pan Kyaung (Flower School), was published in 1977.
He was arrested twice for his involvement in popular movements against government.
He was sentenced for seven years but released after seven months because he was a student at that time.
Over one thousand people were arrested by then military government for publishing and distributing the poem.