He was one of the leaders of the Hkit san (Testing the Times) movement in Burmese literature searching for a new style and content before the Second World War,[1] along with Theippan Maung Wa, Nwe Soe and Min Thu Wun.

[2] His most memorable work was a play titled Maha hsan gyinthu, an adaptation of Molière's Le bourgeois gentilhomme, published in 1934.

He went on to the University of Rangoon, passed the intermediate level with credits in Burmese and won the "Tha Doe Aung" prize.

During World War II Zawgyi became Deputy Director General (Literature and Libraries Division) at the Ministry of Education.

In 1955 Zawgyi won the Sarpay Beikman "variety in literature" (sa padetha) prize for Thakin Kodaw Hmaing htika.

[2][4][5] In 1979 Zawgyi won the National Literary Award for "Nin-la-hè chit dukkha (Damn You, Broken Heart) and Other Short Stories", and in 1987, another for "Ancient Bagan and Other Poems".